North Okaloosa County’s recent wet conditions — including high humidity, heavy dews and frequent afternoon and evening rains — promote gray leaf spot, a common fungal disease of St. Augustine grass.

Individual spots or lesions first appear as brownish spots smaller than a pinhead. As they grow, they become circular and elongate lengthwise on the leaf. The spots turn brown to grayish in appearance. Numerous spots or lesions appear on an individual leaf. Heavily infected leaves begin to turn brown and wither, usually beginning at the blade’s tip.

Gray leaf spot can move rapidly during prolonged warm, wet periods. Overwatering or irrigating in the evening provides the prolonged period of wetness required for disease infection.

“Severity of the disease is enhanced by application of readily available nitrogen fertilizer and is proportional to the amount of nitrogen applied,” the Florida Lawn Handbook states.

Select fertilizers that are low in nitrogen or have slow-release nitrogen. Don’t overdo it in fertilizing your lawn, and do not apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer atop an already infected lawn. In addition, some lawn weed killers, such as atrazine, will increase grass’ susceptibility to gray leaf spot.

Irrigate during early morning hours to minimize the time the grass is wet. Water only as needed, and deeply.

Don’t irrigate when it is already wet from rain. With frequent rains, very little to no supplemental irrigation has been needed in most local lawns.

Avoid leaving your irrigation timer on after adequate rainfall. It’s best to operate your irrigation controller on manual so that you can monitor the lawn and provide irrigation during dry times.

You may need to use fungicide if the disease outbreak is severe. Look for products containing propiconazole, triadimefon or thiophanate-methy. Always follow the product label’s directions and precautions.

For more information on how to correctly water a Florida lawn, visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/TOPIC_Lawn_Watering.

For more information on maintaining a Florida lawn, contact your county's UF/IFAS Extension Office or visit http://hort.ufl.edu/yourfloridalawn.

Larry Williams is an agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Rains promote St. Augustine grass fungus

BAKER — An inmate artist from the Century Correctional Institute is restoring a local landmark while creating a large-scale depiction of this north county community's heritage.

The public art project replaces the Baker Block Museum's former mural that had deteriorated over the years. Like the original, the new mural celebrates Baker's founding as a railroad town.

In addition to an old locomotive pulling into the town's  depot, the painting includes the now-defunct Bank of Baker and the old Hart Hotel.

"The three buildings we're using were all once within a stone's throw of the museum," Baker Block Museum director Ann Spann said.

Spann said she provided the artist, who by Department of Corrections regulations can't be identified, with copies of old photos of the three now-lost buildings.

The museum also provided paint and other supplies for the project, which is expected to take another five weeks or so to be completed.

"This is a massive project," the artist said. The Department of Corrections granted the interview on a condition that the artist’s identity not be revealed. "I haven't done anything this big before."

North Okaloosa Historical Association President Danny Hall said the organization and museum rely on inmate labor from Century for routine grounds work, cleaning and maintenance.

"They are a huge asset to our day-to-day operations and special projects," Hall said. "We could not do without them."

The mural restoration, which is being done by the artist and an inmate assistant, supervised by a Department of Corrections officer, is an outgrowth of the relationship, Spann said.

Community response to the new mural has been positive, with residents patronizing Baker businesses pausing to watch the artist at work, Spann said.

"It's real nice," Josette Phillips said. "I'm glad to see them replacing the painting."

"The mural pulls a lot of people into the museum who want to see what it's all about," Spann said, adding it often attracts tourists passing through Baker from Alabama en route to the beach.

"I'm kind of proud of it," the artist said. "They gave me lots of artistic freedom so I'm adding things like people, the old truck and I'm going to paint an old car in the street."

"We are very pleased with the artist's work and grateful for all that the inmate crew and corrections office does for the museum," Hall said.

Want to watch?

What: An inmate artist from the Century Correctional Institute paints the mural on Baker Block Museum’s east wall

When: 8:30 a.m. until about 3 p.m. most weekdays, weather permitting

Where: Baker Block Museum, corner of State Roads 4 and 189,  Baker.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Inmate artist creates mural on side of Baker Block Museum

NICEVILLE — What's not to love about a spectacular stage musical in which only four of the 11 main characters make it to the final curtain?

Audiences have been flocking to "Les Misérables" since it burst onto the stage at a Parisian sports stadium in 1980. The spectacular production opening tonight at Northwest Florida State College is no less grand, no less stirring — and no less heartbreaking.

See the "Les Misérables" photo gallery here>>

The overnight Paris Uprising of 1832 doesn't register in American students' world history texts, but it inspired French author Victor Hugo. He spent the nights of the June 5-6 rebellion dodging bullets and wrote an epical novel centered on the event.

Book to stage

French composers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg brought Hugo's story to the stage, and, last Christmas, to Hollywood. Their score has entered the pantheon of great stage musicals.

With beloved songs including "I Dreamed a Dream," "Master of the House," "A Heart Full of Love" and "Bring Him Home," the NWFSC production does each number full justice.

Much of that success is due to an exquisite cast of regional talent headed by Michael Dye, Niceville High School’s choral music director, as the tortured Jean Valjean.

Clint Mahle, the production's director, plays Jean’s nemesis, Police Inspector Javert, with delicious menace yet the inner struggle that comes when "just following orders" doesn't cut it anymore.

As Fantine, the noble single mother and victim of the worst hostile work environment ever portrayed on stage, Annie Melia performs a glorious "I Dreamed a Dream.”

Denis Milonas and Allison Everitt as "Master of the House" M. Thénardier and missus, provide delightful comedic relief in the often-dark tale of woe, as well as a significant plot link.

Doomed love triangle

Hannah Moore, Sivu Schlegel and Mallory Olds masterfully play the love triangle involving Cosette, Marius and Eponine, respectively, with rich, crisp vocals by each.

Schlegel stands out as the anguished sole survivor among his Republican classmates who led their neighborhood's ill-fated uprising against the Legitimists.

His performance of "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables," fraught with emotion and guilt, garnered more than a few moist eyes in the preview audience.

A young thespian I hope we see in many future productions is sixth-grader Nathan Burge, who perkily plays the eager street urchin Gavroche.

If I may level one criticism — and this is certainly not Nathan's fault — I must question the compulsion to make the French working classes speak with English Cockney accents. It was distracting to the extent I half-expected Nathan to start singing "Consider Yourself" from "Oliver!"

Impressive look

The production design is impressive. Mahlie's beautifully detailed, multi-level set — especially the Republicans' barricade — is used effectively.

Jennifer Boudette's nearly 200 original costumes provide period authenticity from peasant workers to aristocrats — and aristocrat wannabes.

Bob Whittaker's evocative light design punctuates each scene, spotlighting individuals at critical moments, washing the barricade in a blood-red glow, and finally, bathing the stage at last in a cheerful brilliance.

"Les Misérables" at Northwest Florida State College is certainly the best and best executed of the college's excellent summer musicals series I've seen.

Given its outstanding performances, sweeping score, beautiful design and grand spectacle, it's a must-see this summer.

Want to go?

WHAT: "Les Misérables," the Northwest Florida State College summer musical

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. July 17-20 and 25-27

WHERE: Mattie Kelly Performing Arts Center, Niceville

COST: $25 adult, $20 youth, and one free ticket for NWFSC students with valid ID.

ORDER TICKETS: 729-6000 or www.mattiekellyartscenter.org

Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: REVIEW: Nothing miserable about 'Les Misérables' at NWFSC (PHOTOS, VIDEO)