Notes from the Back Woods

Nature

Blue Ginger and an Amphibian Admirer

I was admiring the blue ginger (technically not a true ginger but Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, a Brazilian relative of our old familiar native wildflower called Spiderwort ) that...

Nature

Green Tree-frog

Ever get that feeling someone is watching you? He’s on the window but more interested in the insects attracted to the light from it at night. I need to clean that window, but...

Nature

Situational Awareness

Signs of Changing Times

Nature

Shelf Life 2

Bracket fungi aging

Recipes

Banana Bread

Not too sweet

Nature

Whistling and Rustling Wings

Details you might miss on a quaker

Nature

Hand Grenades

uIt’s that time of year. My little hand grenade pineapples are ripening and this time I beat the raccoons and opossums to them. Hooray!These are easy to grow.  Every time you...

Nature

Mangrove Skipper Butterfly

Yes, even this far north

Nature

Waspville

This very large wasp is apparently what is called an Eastern Cicada Killer; I say apparently because this was the hairiest one I have ever seen, and I know that there are such...

Nature

Unwelcome Guests

The persecution of a pecan tree

Nature

Shelf Life I

Bracket fungus

The Seventh Inning Stretch

Had a beautiful day at the fishing pier just a bit north of here. Several storms skipped just by us on their way towards Jacksonville on the opposite side of the state, and we...

Nature · Photography

One of the Tropical Orb Weavers

This is a young orb weaver that sports a startling neon green spot on its back. It’s the first I have seen here, probably because during the day this type of spider  sleeps in...

Recipes

Chili

Beans, beans and more beans

Nature

In Praise of Rain

Rain, at last! And, I am not the only one glad to feel it come pattering,  or even pounding down.  Once we recover from the drought,  and the ground gets saturated enough for...