David Polican/Audubon Photography Awards

By Jim Pescha

Beekeeper and Instructor

HERE IT IS, WINTER TIME IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. The days are getting shorter and the weather has cooled off. We may not get snow here, but the bees know what time of the year it is.

They have already started to transition into their winter mode. The queen has been raising winter bees for a while now. She is not laying as many eggs as she did in the summer months so the colony has been getting smaller in preparation for the colder months that are coming. They are also working on sealing up the hive for the cold winter weather. ( we can still have some freezing temperatures and frosts. )

The bees will not fly when the outside temperature drops below 50 deg., but on our nicer days, they will be out flying and looking for food. There just won’t be as many of them this time of the year.

In the wintertime, because of the bad weather, the bees rely on the honey that they made and stored during the summertime. That is why when we harvest honey we need to make sure that we leave enough for them to get through the winter.

Check the January Newsletter for the date and time for this class

Mistletoe became popular in Florida during the 19th century as part of a broader tradition imported from Europe. Its association with Christmas gained traction in the United States during the Victorian era, when romantic holiday customs flourished. 

The plant, which grows naturally in parts of Florida, was readily available and became a festive decoration symbolizing love and goodwill. By the late 1800s, the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe was well established, solidifying its role in holiday celebrations across the region. Florida’s warm climate and abundant greenery made it easy to incorporate mistletoe into local holiday traditions. 

You will find mistletoe growing on laurel oaks and deciduous trees most of the time. While hiking on trails, bird watching or enjoying nature, look for a green “ball” of leaves more evident in late fall and winter. 

We wish you happiest of holidays from Ferrell Outdoors. www.ferrelloutdoors.com. 

Find more trails in our book, “Florida Footsteps: A Guide to Short Trails in Central Florida” by Joan and Jack Ferrell of Ferrell Outdoors on Amazon.com.

Ferrell Outdoors  www.ferrelloutdoors.com

The Museum of Arts & Sciences invites you on an extraordinary journey through the original Birds of Florida as captured in the meticulously painted studies of John James Audubon (1785-1851), one of the most celebrated artists in American history. A masterpiece of printmaking, these exquisite, life-size illustrations are part of Audubon’s ground-breaking 435-count compendium The Birds of America, the culmination of the artist’s ambition to paint every bird species in North America. As part of this twelve-year venture, Audubon organized a special expedition to Florida (1831-1832) in order to document the birds, and their habitats, unique to the U.S. Territory.

The exhibition is an experiential companion to the sumptuously illustrated catalog, Audubon’s Birds of Florida, written by guest curator Clay Henderson, environmental lawyer, historian, and President Emeritus of the Florida Audubon Society. Henderson’s deep scholarship of John James Audubon’s life and work, as well as his personal commitment to the study and preservation of Florida’s flora and fauna, lead us on a thoughtful expedition of our own...

We would appreciate donations for Jay Watch 24!  

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West Volusia Audubon
P.O. Box 1268
DeLand, FL 32721
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Did you know that Lyonia Environmental Center (LEC) offers over 25 public programs every month, ranging from guided hikes in Lyonia Preserve to gardening programs, craft programs, and kids’ programs? That’s a lot to remember! Here’s an easy way for you to keep up with everything we have to offer – follow us on Eventbrite! That way you can easily see what’s happening and register for something you’re interested in! Just follow this link and click the “follow” button: Lyonia Environmental Center Events | Eventbrite.

Take control of your water use!!

Did you know that about half of the water many Floridians use each day is sprinkled on their lawns? And for most of us, the water used on our lawns comes from a water supply utility, which means it is fresh, drinkable and useable inside your home. Clean drinking water used on lawns in a state with fickle weather patterns and a booming population? It’s time to Water Less.

Audubon Advocate Newsletter

The Advocate is Audubon Florida's monthly newsletter featuring up-to-the-minute developments in environmental issues.​ Sign up to receive the Advocate for yourself. 

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Please help support the many West Volusia Audubon environmental projects. Thank you for your support. You can either give with PayPal or with a credit/debit card. Just click on the donate button.

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West Volusia Audubon Society
PO Box 1268
DeLand, Fl. 32721-1268

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A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. #CH42010

A Chapter of Florida Audubon and National Audubon Society, West Volusia Audubon Society is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt nonprofit corporation, established in 1961

Meetings, Programs, and Field Trips

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