The dog and butterfly

Hey, turn out that light we're trying to sleep up here. 

It was night time when I arrived home this evening so the dog and I walked in the darkness.  We started in the back yard and as soon as I pointed the flashlight up I saw something shining in the pine tree in my back yard.  A big limb from the pine tree is being pulled down close to the ground by all the pinecones it has on it.  When I got close I could see that what I was seeing was a Gulf Fritillary butterfly.  It was roosting in the pine needles of the the tree for protection.  I did some research and found that this butterfly likes to lay it's eggs on the passion flower plant.  There are plenty of passion flower plants in and around my yard so that works out good for the butterfly.  The caterpillar of the Fritillary has a very orange body with shiny black spikes sticking out of it on all sides.  The caterpillars are a big problem for people like me who like to grow passion flowers in pots.  They can just about eat up the eatable leaves of a passion vine in one day.  I avoid this problem by starting my passion flowers early so my plant are finished producing by the time the butterflies arrive.  After looking at the Fritillary the dog and I walked on up to the watermelon field which is nearly covered with weeds now.  The owners will most likely go in and pick the good melons over the next day or so.  The good ones will be sold on labor day at a premium.  The leftovers will be going for next to nothing the day after labor day.   That is supply and demand in action.  Thanks for reading my blog tonight.  Have a great evening.  Bye.

When all else fails look mean

 



I am going to give you such a pinch. 

 This morning when the dog and I walked outside we experienced the shock that comes from a sudden and pleasant change in the weather.  A dry air mass has pushed the humid air away and the temperature this morning was in the high 60s with very low humidity.  The dog was as chipper as he could be.   He wears a very heavy fur coat all the time so when the temperature falls he gets giddy.  We walked down the east end of the road and found our good friends the crawfish there waiting on us.  I saw two where I took my photo. They were making their way to a basin at the end of the culvert where they will probably be looking for mates. The one I photographed looked as though he did not appreciate my attention.  Those little claws can pinch you very painfully so I keep my fingers out of their reach.   I am sure there will be many of these little folks moving down into the basin today as this is their season.   The raccoons know the seasons as well and they will show up soon  and have a feast.   Well good luck little crawfish and watch out for furry fellows with masks on.   Thanks for dropping in.  Bye

 

Green green grass of home

A sunset so beautiful even the dog stops to watch. 

This evening the dog and I drove over to my Mom's home to take her some purple hull peas I had shelled out last night.  When we left my Mom's house we drove down to a grass farm that surrounds a trailer park I lived in about 12 years ago.  I lived in that park for 8 years and walked the grassy fields every morning and evening.  I had another dog then.  His name was Bubba.  I walked hundreds of miles with Bubba round and round the fields.  He loved the grass fields so much he just could not wait to go walking in them.  Everyone laughed when I told them my dog's name was Bubba but every one remembers him and his antics.   He and I became a fixture on the farm and pretty much were given the run of the fields and irrigation ponds by the owner who became my friend.  It was a wonderful and peaceful time in my life I will never forget.  The dog and I took a walk around the fields as the sun went down but it was not quite the same.  Too much time has passed and the place is different now.  I guess what they say is true.  You really can't go home again.    But after thinking about it for a minute I remembered that they also say that home is where your heart is.  So the dog and I jumped in the truck and hurried down to the little patch of ground where my heart is in  Grand Bay, Alabama.   This evening at least I was able to really go home again.  Thank you for coming by.  Have a good evening.

Peanut patch as promised

The human eye reacts well to green and blue. 

This morning the dog and I walked out into the peanut field and took a quick photo just in case anyone may not have seen what peanuts look like when they are growing.  The peanuts are actually little sprouts or roots that grow from the side of the plant and then turn down into the soil.  A peanut will form just below the surface of the soil where the sprout goes into the ground.  Once the peanuts are mature a machine will scoop them up and flip the entire plant upside down.  This will expose the peanuts which are still in the shell to the air.  After a few days of drying another machine will come along and shake the peanuts free from the plant and suck them up into a hopper.  The dried plants will be picked up later and used for feed or fuel.  Peanut harvesting time is very dusty and plays havoc with some people's allergies.  If you look closely way down past the end of the rows in the distance you will see a silo used to hold grain for a dairy farm that used to operate there.  The buildings and the silo are made of terracotta tile and are still very attractive even though they are in disrepair.  It is a dream of mine to see that dairy farm come back to life one day.  A man can dream. A man can dream.  Thanks for visiting today.  I hope it is a great day for you.  Bye

When Moccasins aren't shoes

Very young water moccasin. 

As the dog and I walked out into the cool evening I wondered what we would see today.  As is usually the case when I think there is nothing left to see during our walks something literally jumps out at me.  Today we walked down to the east end of the paved road to have a look at what might be there in the culvert.   We saw several things there and I photographed a couple of them as possible subjects.  As we walked back I noticed something familiar on the road. I had mistaken it for a stick several times before but this time I knew what it was.  I grabbed the dog by the collar because I knew what his reaction would be.  It was the ever present water moccasin crossing the road.  This one was a juvenile and was approximately 1 foot long.  It was copper and bronze colored now but it will change to a dull black as it grows when the patterns will nearly disappear.  The snake was very angry that we had come near to it and jumped at me and the dog.  The dog would have loved to have had it out with it as he has a burning hatred for snakes.  I am not sure why that is because he was bitten about three years back and had to go to the emergency vet on a Saturday night due to swelling.  As I have said in a another post the dog has been bitten several times by snakes but only once was the bite bad enough to go to the vet.   The little snake we were looking at as I said was very angry and moved into the grass on the side of the road.  There it took up the classic head up and mouth open pose which gives this snake the nick name cotton mouth moccasin.  I wanted to get a photo of the "Cotton Mouth" but it moved into the brush too quickly for me so I only have a photo of it rearing up.     When they are larger they will coil and spring and you really have to steer clear of them.  Many people here don't avoid them though and instead just shoot them or hack them with a shovel.  No telling how many big rats and mice we are trying to get out of our houses that those dead moccasins might have taken care of.   Well, thanks for coming by.  I hope I didn't give you the creeps.  Bye.

The eels have come out of hiding

A face only a mother could love. 

This morning the dog and I made our way down to the culvert to see what has shown up there today.  When we arrived we found the eels were there. I posted a photo I took this morning showing one of the eels having his breakfast.  They are eating the algae growing on the bottom of the culvert.  We found  3 of these eels eating together this morning.  The one I photographed is about 18 inches long and their color is a gray-red-blue mixture.  They appear very slippery.  I would not know if they were because I can't bring myself to pick one up.  They are not aggressive at all and can be handled with a stick.  In the past I have seen as many as twelve grouped together in the culvert.  The morning was cool and humid but there was no rain during our walk.  I saw what appeared to be fog yesterday early in the morning which can sometimes indicate a change in the weather pattern is in the offing.  Many folks here are ready for some dryer days.  I will take the weather as it comes and make the best of it.
I hope my writing about what I see is encouraging you to look at your surroundings while you walk. Let me know what you see in the comments or email and I will respond.  If you are not able to walk and have some questions about the area where I walk please ask and I will respond.  Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  I hope your day will be a good one. Bye

Not a good choice for Christmas

Brazilian Pepper? 

This evening The dog and I walked down the dirt road to the spot where we saw the snapping turtle yesterday.  It was a little warmer as a tropical system has moved through the area bringing heat and moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico.  When we arrived at the end of the road I decided to take some photos of a plant I believe to be Brazilian Pepper.  About 2 years ago I described this plant to my brother and he identified it as Brazilian Pepper which he told me is an invasive species.  I have since spoken to the land owner and they have assured me that it is only holly and that it is no problem.  The fact that it is mistaken for holly is one avenue the plant has used to wipe out other plant species in south Florida.  Folks down there have apparently used the plants leaves and berries in Christmas decoration then when the holidays are over they are discarded into the trash.  The berries from the decorations germinate in the landfill and the berries from the landfill plants are spread by birds in the surrounding woods. The Brazilian Pepper's leaves can prevent other plant's seeds from germinating and in a short period of time when the remaining adult native plants die the only plant left will be the Pepper.  I am not sure if the plant can duplicate the success it had in Florida, here in our area where it is colder in the winter.  All I can say is the plant I have been observing has multiplied itself about 5 time in the last couple of years so it appears the plant has acclimated  itself to our climate.  This area has known several invasive species over the years and they have changed the look of the land forever.  We have the Chinese tallow known here as the Popcorn tree. We also have Cogan grass known here as Jap grass.  Both of these came in the holds of ships that arrived in our ports.  The lesson in all this is that we should think about it a little before we take a plant or seeds from one place to another.  Thanks for reading my blog tonight.  Have a good evening.

A Fly's nightmare

Warning spider ahead. 

The dog and I started our walk this morning in the back yard by the garden.  I noticed a spider there that shows up each year in the fruit trees.   This is the apptly named green orchard spider.  It builds a web in or around the fruit trees and bushes and hangs inverted while waiting for a flying insect to become entangled.   The green body with international orange highlights is very stricking in it's appearance.  There are quite a few of these in the yard along with numerous other spiders.  The one I have photographed here is about .75 inches long and will eventually grow to around 1.5 inches.  After viewing the spider for a few minutes we got going.  The dog got a little way into our walk and then he heard the roll of thunder from an approaching storm and he headed back home.  He has really become afraid of thunder lately and it is taking it's toll on his excercise time.  I brought him home and then I walked down to where the Yellow Jackets are continuing repairs to their nest.  I like to try and walk at least a mile in the morning and then walk another in the evening.  Today is supposed to be rainy so I guess we will be taking care of things inside.   I hope you have a great Saturday.  Thanks for coming by.

A sucker for sunsets

What a way to end the day. 

This evening the thunderstorms dissipated early and left only a few high clouds floating past.  The temperature was very comfortable at around 78 degrees and the humidity was hanging at around 80%.   Our walk took us down to a cleared field situated behind where the yellow jacket nest I mentioned in another post is located.  I took several photos of the sunset.  As the title says I am a sucker for the sunsets.   Each one is unique and the photo you take one minute you cannot repeat a minute later.  I usually take around 10 shots and then keep a couple of the best ones.  The IPhone is a different kind of camera than I am used to and I am slowly learning how to force it to pick up subtle shading in low light situations.  The photo I have posted may be a prediction of the future.  They say "Red sky at night sailors delight".  I hope that means I can get some yard work done tomorrow.  I will let you know.  Thanks for coming by tonight.  Have a good evening.

Green and mean

The dog knows to maintain a safe distance from this one. 

This morning the dog and I walked down to the west end of the dirt road.  The morning was pleasant and walking was easy.  When we arrived at the end of the road I went to one side where I was looking at some Brazilian Pepper growing there.  The dog was behind me on the other side of the road.  I heard him give out a little yelp which usually indicated he had found something.  When I turned around I could see he was looking at something on the ground but whatever it was it was not apparent to me until I crossed the road and nearly stepped on it.  It was a small snapping turtle.  It was about a foot long and was covered with green algae which camouflaged it on the ground. Every thing here has some kind of algae on it now so the turtle was hard to see.  When I spotted it and came over to take a look the dog settled down and would not get any closer than a couple of feet.  He has had it in with a much larger version before and came out on the losing end so he was not about to get in to it with this one.  Don't get me wrong, the dog loves turtles just not the kind that can bite your tongue off.   He often finds box turtles in the brush which he scoops up in his mouth and immediately heads home with.  I have to chase him down and take them away from him because he will eventually bite a hole in the turtle's shell which will kill it.  The only time the dog ever bit me was when he was trying to get a box turtle back that I had taken away.  I have to trick him by picking up a pine cone or stick and rubbing it on the turtle.  I throw the stick on one side of the road and when he chases it I throw the box turtle on the other.   I have probably had to do this with about 30 turtles since I have had the dog so I have gotten pretty good at the turtle trick.   Thanks for coming by.  Have a great day.

The sky is His canvas

THE ARTIST is at work. 

This evening I walked down to the soybean fields.  As I walked the weather began to lower.  There was a large thunder storm forming to the north of the field which was affecting cloud formation to the south.  I was going to take a photo of the soybean field but the clouds were very interesting so I made them the subject of the photo. This evening was filled with clouds lit by the sunset. The colors of orange, yellow and blue really did look like a painting.  I actually took quite a few photos of the sun lit clouds but this was the best one.  The thunderstorm brought cool temperatures and breezes that were very welcome after the heat of the day.  Eventually it began to ran and the storm died out.  At some point later in the year we will look back on these days and wish for a rain storm so I am going to enjoy them while they are here.  Thanks for coming by.  Have a restful night.

From the set of Deliverance

Its that Dueling Banjos I hear?    

This morning we walked down south of my house to the old pig farm area.  The temperature was very comfortable and the humidity was a little lower than it has been.  I stopped off and wandered into the thick woods that shelter a small creek which meanders quietly along in the under story.   Humans rarely ever travel through these woods due to the heavy brush and mosquitoes so the creek is left to make it's own way through the woods. This little creek starts at a low spot down the street from my home and winds back and forth in a southerly direction for about a half mile where it crosses under the road near the pig farm.  It's short journey ends when it empties into a small pond behind the farm.  I never underestimate these small creeks as they can turn into a raging torrent during heavy rain events.  This innocent little stream nearly carried the dog away a couple of years ago.  Thankfully he survived and is with me still today.    Thank You for reading my blog.   Have a good day.

The dog says "Hey"

Would you throw Teddy for me? 

Tonight I arrived home late so the dog and I started our walk in the dark.  The dog only walked a little while and decided he didn't want to walk anymore and he went home.  I let him back in the gate and walked by myself down to the end of the paved road where Zig Zag the lonely bull is.   There was nothing that I could see tonight that I could photograph and I too was weary from the day so I walked on home. Night time photos on the IPhone are new to me and I am still learning how to take them.    I had to settle for a picture of the dog trying to get me to play with his torn up teddy bear while I was writing this post. He can look at you pretty intently with his eyes. Sometimes he looks kind of spooky.  Thanks for coming by this evening. Bye.

Talley me bananas

Three months to banana ice cream. 

My morning walks always start with a turn around the yard to see how the garden and fruit trees are doing.  This morning I stopped at the north side of the house and took a look at the bananas growing there.  I have been told that these are most likely the Orinoco variety of bananas by a local botanist.   They can grow to around 20 feet in height.  The last banana on the bottom of the bunch is about 9 feet above the ground so my trees are probably around 15 feet tall.  Bananas here on the gulf coast are an iffy proposition due to the fact that they require 18 month of growth to produce ripe fruit. Hurricanes and tropical depressions tend to bring winds that damage them or knock them over.  Most of the time though a killing frost  in December or January will damage the tree once it is about 10 months old and it will have to start over.   The bananas in the photo will most likely make it  to harvest which will be some time in November or December.  The taste is very different from grocery store bananas.  These bananas are almost ice-cream or butter flavored.  The flavor is hard to describe but, they are very good.  Also there is a large flower that grows at the bottom of the stalk which most people cut off.  I leave it as it attracts all types of flying insects and humming birds.  You have to be careful walking around them at night as there are green frogs all over the leaves.  The frogs will jump some times and land right on your face which is a little disconcerting.  Thanks for visiting this morning.  I hope you have a great day. 

Run rabbit run

Opponents sizing each other up. 

This evening the dog and I walked up to a culvert on the east end of the paved road to see if the crawfish have arrived.  On the way we passed a neighbors grass covered drive way where I spotted a rabbit and quietly directed the dog's attention to it.  He glanced in the rabbit's direction and walked around casually pretending not to care.  Then he stood staring for a moment as you see him in photo I took.  After about thirty seconds of staring he bolted after the rabbit which ran down the fence line when it saw the dog coming. The dog gave chase but it was impossible.  It was like the difference between a car and jet.  The dog was simply out ran by the rabbit as is usually the case.  The dog has in the past caught the rabbits but they were in a situation where they could not see him such as high grass. After the chase ended we walked on up to the culvert where we found that the crawfish had not arrived. We did see a few small bass and brim minnows making their way down through the flowing water.  Soon the crawfish will come out of the ground and begin catching the small fish as they swim by which is always interesting to watch.    They are fierce little machines that don't seem to be afraid of anything and they are tasty.  As I look for the crawfish I am aware that there may be things in bushes watching me.  Anywhere there is flowing water there is the danger of water moccasins. They are in the area of the culvert in large numbers.  The moccasins should be dispersing their broods about now so we will have to be careful. When they are small the moccasins will appear a copper or bronze color and are about a foot long.  They are very aggressive and will jump at you if they feel cornered.  The dog has been bit by snakes several times over the years.  He has apparently survived.