Coral bean bushes are already producing their fall berry crop. Although birds love to snack on the bright red seeds, they’re poisonous to humans. American Indians used to make necklaces from the beads, which explains the shrub’s other common name: Cherokee bean. The seeds are hard to collect, though, because the shrub’s stems are studded with small thorns.

Song bird
The mockingbird is not flashy. It’s not particularly graceful. But wow, can it sing. The species name, Mimus polyglottos (“many-tongued mimic”), gives a hint of its greatest talent. Both sexes sing original songs and imitate the call of other birds, repeating phrases over and over. Males sing at night when they’re looking for a mate. The mockingbird has been Florida’s state bird since 1927; we share it with four other states that appreciate its vocal abilities.

It’s humid outside
“It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” How many times have you heard that complaint about Florida’s summer? Actually, what we should complain about is the dewpoint temperature. That’s a more exact measure of how much moisture is in the air. When the air temperature and the dewpoint temperature are the same, 100 percent humidity results. Dewpoint temperatures in the upper 70s make it feel like a sauna outside. Late Wednesday afternoon Tampa had a relative humidity of 62 percent (air temperature of 92, dewpoint temperature of 77). At the same moment, Phoenix checked in at 25 percent humidity (air temperature of 100 degrees, dewpoint temperature of 60).\

Chinch bugs not a cinch
It’s hard to keep chinch bugs out of your lawn during hot, dry weather. This summer, Tampa Bay turf is taking a beating from these tiny insects, which suck vital juices from grass blades. If your lawn is afflicted, you’ll see brown, strawlike patches next to driveways, sidewalks, patios and pool decks. Diazinon, Dursban or insecticidal soap sprays are recommended; treat only a 3-foot swath around the dead area. You may have to spray two or three times, at 10-day intervals.

— Compiled by Times staff writer JEANNE MALMGREN
Sources: Times files; All the Birds of North America; Peterson’s Field Guide to the Birds; Andy Nash of National Weather Service, Ruskin.