Mistletoe Myths and Kisses Abundant During Holiday Season

Mistletoe Myths and Kisses Abundant During Holiday Season

By Lisa D. Mickey It’s common to spot mistletoe growing in the tops of trees at this time of year throughout Central Florida and the Southeast. If you spy a large green plant clump growing amid the boughs of deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves during the...
MDC’s 2021 Winter Birding Tours Begin in January

MDC’s 2021 Winter Birding Tours Begin in January

Avian enthusiasts eager to observe migratory birds passing through Central Florida en route to Arctic nesting grounds can catch a ride with the Marine Discovery Center to an active spoil island, starting on January 14. MDC’s Winter Birding Tours give guests...
Brazilian Pepper: All Is Not Jolly With “Florida Holly”

Brazilian Pepper: All Is Not Jolly With “Florida Holly”

By Lisa D. Mickey During the holiday season here in Florida, you might be tempted to deck the halls with the beautiful red berries from a plant often called “Florida Holly” or the “Christmasberry tree.” But take heed: the plant that bears these bright red berries, the...
Truths vs. Myths Regarding Recycling in Volusia County

Truths vs. Myths Regarding Recycling in Volusia County

By Lisa D. Mickey There is a wide range of misinformation circulating on social media and in conversation when it comes to recycling here in Volusia County. One belief is that everything – trash and recycling – is dumped into the same truck and taken to the county...
December Volunteer Spotlight: Leigh Chegwin

December Volunteer Spotlight: Leigh Chegwin

​It’s always a good thing when a registered nurse volunteers in the Marine Discovery Center’s camps and education programs. Leigh Chegwin spent 48 years as an RN with a specialty in pediatrics and she has volunteered for the last four years in the center’s education...
Basic Tips For Better Birding

Basic Tips For Better Birding

By Lisa D. Mickey Birds have a way of sending you back to your field guide, especially when winter migrants start soaring into Florida, landing on the pond behind your house and making you wonder exactly which bird you are seeing out your back door. That has been the...