Recent Amelia Island News & Travel Highlights
MOVING? Amelia Island Rental Home

MOVING? Amelia Island Rental Home

Looking for a place to rent on Amelia Island, Florida? If you're making a move to northeast Florida, Amelia Island is a popular location with its beautiful, uncrowded beaches, ...

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Ballooning Debt, Bills Rising Like Helium Balloons, Taxes

Ballooning Debt, Bills Rising Like Helium Balloons, Taxes

If it feels like your monthly electric and food and insurance bills are rising like a helium balloon on a windy day, stay tuned. The tax man is likely to come ...

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Butterflies, Blossoms, Garden Experts: Amelia Island Garden Show

Butterflies, Blossoms, Garden Experts: Amelia Island Garden Show

Celebrate nature in bloom on Amelia Island at the Amelia Island Garden Show March 6-7, 2010. Arrive early (opens at 9 am) and enjoy fresh-brewed coffee or espresso along with ...

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SALT & LIME:  Florida Gardening Tips

SALT & LIME: Florida Gardening Tips

While salt and lime go well with Tequila poolside, they may be unwanted companions in Florida landscapes. If you're a coastal dweller in northeast Florida, learn about salt tolerant plants ...

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Isle of 8 Flags SHRIMP FESTIVAL, Fernandina Beach, Florida

Isle of 8 Flags SHRIMP FESTIVAL, Fernandina Beach, Florida

In Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida, the Isle of 8 Flags Shrimp Festival is an annual tradition, always held the first weekend in May each year. The 47th annual ...

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Tasty Homegrown Heirloom Tomatoes & Native Florida Plants

Tasty Homegrown Heirloom Tomatoes & Native Florida Plants

Tasty Homegrown Florida Heirloom Tomatoes: The appeal of growing your own tomatoes may come from your taste buds, wallet, or even food safety issues. For some, though, it’s ...

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Amelia Island: Birder's Paradise, Gateway East Florida Birding Trail

Amelia Island: Birder's Paradise, Gateway East Florida Birding Trail

On Amelia Island, discover the "gateway" of the East Florida Birding Trail, part of a 2,000 mile trail that extends throughout the state. Amelia Island's Fort Clinch State Park is ...

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White Oak Plantation's Animal Conservation Center, Northeast Florida

White Oak Plantation's Animal Conservation Center, Northeast Florida

The legendary White Oak Plantation houses a Conservation Center, a natural sanctuary where exotic animals roam in Nassau County, Florida along the Georgia border. Amidst the pines, live oaks, crape ...

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SPEED, FLASH, ELEGANCE:  Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Rare Auto Event

SPEED, FLASH, ELEGANCE: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Rare Auto Event

One of the posh events of the year on this northeast Florida resort barrier island is held in March – the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Picture in your mind the ...

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Florida Real Estate Valuations Translate to Lower Government Revenues

Florida Real Estate Valuations Translate to Lower Government Revenues

The impact of a slowing commercial sector has been delayed, as compared with residential real estate. There have been copious reports of the 20 to 40 percent declines in residential ...

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Fernandina's February Festivals: Films & Books Featured on Amelia Island, Florida

Fernandina's February Festivals: Films & Books Featured on Amelia Island, Florida

Authors and filmmakers gather on Amelia Island, Florida in February to participate in two festivals celebrating a passion for creative expression. Attend the Amelia Island Book Festival to enjoy ...

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Reprieve From Harshest Wrath of Recession

Reprieve From Harshest Wrath of Recession

The local economy has gotten a reprieve from the harshest wrath of the recession. One of the county's largest employers - the Smurfit Stone Container Corp. mill in Fernandina ...

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Amelia Island Flowers: Bee on Blooming Hibiscus, Fernandina Beach

Amelia Island Flowers: Bee on Blooming Hibiscus, Fernandina Beach in northeast Florida

Celebrate nature in bloom on Amelia Island this weekend outdoors at the Amelia Island Garden Show March 6-7, 2010. Arrive early — show opens at 9 am — and enjoy a fresh-brewed coffee or espresso along with pastries in the park from Fernandina’s Farmers Market, surrounded by flower blossoms and butterflies. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend some time this weekend, and admission is free.

Featuring on-site experts offering advice about “greening your home, yard, and garden,” the outdoor Amelia Island Garden Show (being held in Fernandina Beach’s Central Park) will showcase more than 50 vendors, growers, and nurseries from around Florida. Read More→

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Beach Morning Glory

Beach morning glory, also known as railroad vine, adds color to the Florida landscape. (Photo W.B. Lawson)

EDITOR’S NOTE: A University of Florida faculty member and Nassau County Extension Horticultural Agent, Rebecca Jordi addresses some of the questions she receives about landscaping and gardening in northeast Florida, in GARDEN TALK. The Extension also offers helpful clinics throughout the year, providing assistance to local gardeners on Amelia Island and in the surrounding areas of Nassau County, Florida.

—– GARDEN TALK —–

QUESTION: Will you give me some suggestions of salt tolerant plants? NC

JORDI:   Some possible salt tolerant choices of shrubs are Pittosporum, Yaupon Holly, Lantana, or Silverthorn (Elaeagnus pungens). Ask your local nursery about dwarf varieties which would be a good choice to grow in pots. There are several varieties of Lantana such as ‘Golden mound’ which is yellow. Read More→

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Contributing Columnist, Steve Nicklas, expresses his views and insights on various topics of local interest (Nassau County, Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach, Florida) in Steve’s Marketplace column. _____________


—– STEVE’S MARKETPLACE —–

If it feels like your monthly electric and food and insurance bills are rising like a helium balloon on a windy day, stay tuned.

The tax man is likely to come knocking next. And this is hardly a friendly visit or a knock of opportunity for many of us.

With a ballooning federal debt and a free-spending government, there is a likelihood of a plethora of tax increases — on everything from “sin” products to capital gains to health care. And let’s not forget your income. Read More→

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Great Blue Heron, Amelia Island (photo, W.B. Lawson)

Great Blue Heron, Amelia Island (photo, W.B. Lawson)

Whether you’re a seasoned bird watcher or a novice interested in a new hobby, the Amelia Island area is a wonderful place for exploring bird life. Florida is a “birder’s paradise.” With over 470 bird species, Florida reportedly has the third largest number of different species of all the US states.

Right here on Amelia Island, discover the “gateway” of the East Florida Birding Trail, part of a 2,000 mile trail that extends throughout the state. Amelia Island’s Fort Clinch State Park (904)277-7274 is the gateway to the birding trail on Florida’s east coast. (The beautiful heron pictured left was not a bit camera-shy, and hung around Seaside Park in Fernandina Beach for about 45 minutes one day, allowing a close-up.) Read More→

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Okapi, just one of the rare species at White Oak Plantation located near Amelia Island, Florida

The legendary White Oak Plantation houses a Conservation Center, a natural sanctuary where exotic animals roam in Nassau County, Florida along the Georgia border.

Amidst the pines, live oaks, crape myrtle and palmettos are species of endangered animals. White Oak Conservation Center is one of the world’s premiere wildlife breeding, research, and training facilities.  With a global reputation, the center is dedicated to maintaining genetically healthy breeding of rare and near extinct animals, with species survival plans. The White Oak Conservation Center “conserves and sustains some of the earth’s rarest wild animals Read More→

Categories : Island Perspective
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EDITOR’S NOTE: A University of Florida faculty member and Nassau County Extension Horticultural Agent, Rebecca Jordi addresses some of the questions she receives about landscaping and gardening in northeast Florida, in GARDEN TALK. The Extension also offers helpful clinics throughout the year, providing assistance to local gardeners on Amelia Island and in the surrounding areas of Nassau County, Florida. __________

GARDEN TALK

Roma Tomatoes on the Vine (Northeast Florida)

QUESTION: Will you give me a list of heirloom tomatoes to grow in Florida?  PH

JORDI: A growing number of garden enthusiasts are becoming interested in producing tomatoes.  There are several reasons for the increased appeal in gardening which involve food safety issues, reduced cost, and better flavor.

According to Taylor’s Guide to Heirloom Vegetables, a tomato must meet three criteria to be considered an heirloom variety: Read More→

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Amelia Island Interactive Tourist Map

AMELIA ISLAND LIVING eMAGAZINE NEWS FEEDS

SMALL-TOWN LIVING IN FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA

Representatives of the Smithsonian Institute have visited, describing local life in Fernandina Beach as “one of the best examples of small-town living in the U.S.” The National Trust for Historic Preservation has honored Fernandina Beach previously for its historic preservation. In fact, the Victorian-era seaport made the National Trust’s list of “12 top vacation destinations in the United States for historic preservation.”

BEACHES * GOLF * HISTORY * NATURE…”Life on a resort barrier island in Florida”

The new Amelia Island Living.COM features extensive visuals, with emphasis on photography and videos highlighting this scenic barrier island in northeast Florida. Plus real-time updates via TWITTER and FACEBOOK feeds, and social network connectivity via "sister" site, www.AmeliaIslandLiving.NET. TRAVEL GUIDE FOR VISITORS highlights top tourist attractions, festivals, and events. Also read lifestyle articles about small-town living in Fernandina Beach, a northeast Florida seaside community on the Atlantic Coast. Florida gardening, community news, blog, & opinion. Glimpse life on a Florida resort island.