Showing posts with label wildflowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wildflowers. Show all posts

Monday, June 23, 2014

Giants Among Us #Flowers

Anyone else having difficulties with Blogger this week? I can't get all my blogs to display as previously.


It's giving me this business, as above, which is pretty useless. I can only see one post at a time and not all the blogs. If I'm missing some of your posts, this is why, and I do apologize.

Silly thing. *sigh*

It seems that most of my blogging buddies are posting photos of their sunflowers.

Guess I'll jump in. *smile*


I planted Giant Sunflowers all around the garden. At least these are doing well.

Also, sewed Giant Zinnia seeds under the Purple Martin houses near the garden.


What we lack in vegetables [gee, I don't know why ... cough] I've made up for with a profusion of color.

"O LORD, how manifold are your works!" [Psalm 104:24]

Ride Safe,

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Driving Through The Georgia Backcountry

I packed a hurried repast to satisfy the hunger pains
while ensuring that the camera was charged and ready.
Then we cranked up the trusty "cage"
for a trek through the countryside.

These are a few I, or husband, snapped along the way.

A local herald of Spring, they're not native but they grow wild here.

Byrd Farm
Ralston Road

Corn field
on Cross Swamp Road

Mother Goose and her two
surviving goslings.
Sinclair Road

Abandoned farm
Ralston Road

Otter Creek
Otter Creek Road

Ride Safe,

(NOTE: More photos reside here. All where taken in Pierce County, Georgia USA)

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Georgia Springtime Flowers

The one (there's only one) bad thing about being retired is I keep forgetting what day it is. So, instead of a Throwback Thursday post, how about some pretty Spring flowers from around our property.

Cherokee Rose
Georgia State Flower
 
Wisteria

We've spent the day working around the yard clearing trees, picking up debris, all that 'fun' stuff that goes with property management. So, for a treat, we plan to ride our motorcycles to a Barbeque joint this evening to meet with our local Swamp Runners Group. It's a friendly little group with like-minded Christian riders. We make plans to ride en masse to a predestined Restaurant or event on the weekend. And, notably, this will be my first night ride ever. Yes, I promise to be careful. Night riding can be very dangerous.

What are your plans for the evening?

Friday, October 9, 2009

Southeast Georgia Fall Flowers

Fall. Autumn. Harvest time.

I think it's time for a walk in the country.

We both love this time of year: the cool crisp mornings, the azure blue skies. Southeast Georgia' Fall flowers are waking up from their long summer nap. Their little faces are smiling at the sun and waving in the wind to passersby.

When the wind slowed down, I got a few of them to pose for my friends.

Enjoy!

(click photos to enlarge in new window)

Beauty Berry


Blazing Star


Cotton Flower


Cotton Field


Cypress Vine Morning Glory


Meadow Beauty


Wild Mint


Pitcher Plant


Unknown


Red Morning Glory Vine


Sulphur Butterfly
amoungst the morning glory


Unknown


Unknown


Wild Poinsettia
Not as pretty as the domestic,
but not without it's own charm.


Tuesday, May 26, 2009

I'm Just Wild About Wildflowers


High Power Lines

Hubby and I went for a little drive close to the house late last week. We were suffering from a severe case of cabin fever from all the rain (but I didn't shoot 6 holes in it ala Jimmy Buffet song). I figured with all this moisture there had to be wildflowers worth photographing. Thank goodness we have a Jeep! Our poor clay dirt road is a bit messy now.

We also rescued a water turtle from the road on Sunday. Poor thing was covered with mosquitoes and nearly got run over. Hubby put him in a pond close by but away from traffic.

Well, without any further ado, here's some local wildflower photos.


Butterfly weed with a Hoverfly

Butterfly weed is a prolific spring wildflower in Southeast Georgia. Yep. The butterflies love it! This one had a Hoverfly (Syrphidae) paying a visit. Hoverfly's are non-stinging and are very beneficial. They eat primarily Aphids. You'll usually see them 'hovering' very close to the ground in groups.


European Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

The Elderberry is not only a lovely addition to the spring wildflowers, but the berries are used to make [hic] Elderberry Wine. Don't worry Pappy, we're not selling it. "So, don't send 'dem revenuers around here! There's nothing to see behind that barn ..." [hic]

It's not advisable to eat the berries raw. The Elderberry must be cooked to fully remove all the toxins. I don't think they'll kill anyone but you'll get an upset tummy for sure. Elderberries contain potassium and large amounts of vitamin C, and have been proven in quite a few recent studies to shorten the duration of cold and flu symptoms, as well as strengthen the immune system. Also, the dried leaves mixed with lanolin help relieve burns and sunburns.

Some folks make jam from them too. Anything that makes pie works for me! :o)


Lizard Tail (Saururus cernuus)

Now this nifty looking little plant is commonly called "Lizard Tail". It likes wet feet. You'll find them growing in profusion down near creek bottoms and anywhere it's wet but not too sunny. They're also easy to find because Lizard's tail has a distinctive orange like-smell.


Goat's Rue (Tephrosia virginiana)

And this is my Jewel In The Crown today, a Goat's Rue! You heard right Margaret, it's named after a Goat (but not in panties). It doesn't smell like one though. [giggle] This is a very uncommon site. I even e-mailed my fellow Georgian, Mildred, and asked her "What is THIS??!" Because although all the wildflower plant books say it is a native here I have never seen this lovely little plant before.

The Goat's Rue is in the Pea Family (Fabaceae). It has several common names: Rabbit's Pea, Hoary-Pea, Devil's Shoestrings and Catgut. They sound like alibi's to me, like it's on the lamb. I guess this one is hiding out because there are no other Goat's Rue near it.

Goat's Rue and related species may have been used as a fish poison by Indians in some parts of the Americas. Cherokee women used a root decoction to strengthen hair and Cherokee ball players applied the decoction to their limbs to "toughen" them. It was given it to children as a tea to make them strong. It was used by the Cherokee and other tribes in various medicines for treating conditions ranging from worms to urinary problems and tuberculosis.

There's a warning too, apparently this plant may irritate the skin and the seeds may be toxic.

Ya think???!

Medicinally, European Goat’s Rue is mainly used to increase milk flow, both in nursing humans and in dairy cattle. It is also one of the herbs which can be used to lower blood sugar levels. It is an appetite stimulant and digestive tonic which promotes production of the various digestive juices, and is extremely useful for treating chronic constipation.

And now you know.

Hope you enjoyed the 'walk' in the rain with us.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

I'm No Stranger To The Rain

Looky what all this lovely rain has brought us!! Yay! Thank you blessed God and Father for all this rain.


Sensitive Brier (wildflower)



Confederate Jasmine (domestic)

And southeast Georgia has many Hummingbirds. I call them "hummin' bees" because they sound very similar to bees in flight. We had a few earlier but now there must be dozens. Little rascals won't hold still for a photo shoot, so, I apologize for the poor picture quality. Aren't they adorable!?


Ruby Throated Hummingbirds

Hope you enjoyed the visit to our home. Thanks for coming by.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Spring Has Sprung And I'm Undone

We had a really productive day today. The weather is so pleasant that we just had to 'play' outside. :o)


Here's hubby burning debris that has gathered all around the property. The ashes can then be spread on various areas. Our soil is so acidic from the pines that using wood ashes 'sweetens' the soil. Flowers and centipede grass grow like crazy after spreading this around. And contrary to what some say, burning is good, for too many reasons to list here.


Maxie stopped to have a drink from the bird's little watering hole before I started ...


"Let's go Mommy! Make this thing move please."

... while Sam Jr. looked on ... riding in the golf cart is his favorite place when I'm working in the yard. Lucy, the boxer, is off somewhere chasing rabbits, real or imagined.


"It's Shake And Bake, and I heped!"

Remember that silly old commercial for Shake and Bake and the kid with the fake southern accent? That's what Maxie looks like she's saying. Yeah, she helped alright. Helped getting in the way! :o) Good thing she's so cute.

Now I'm tired from all that work. But, it's a good tired from achieving something and being productive.


Oh, and an FYI for anyone living in the SE Georgia / NE Florida area. There is a new classic country music station now and it is superb! The location on the dial is Country Legends 100.7 FM. I listen to it all the time. It's fun to listen to a song with a good Texas swing.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

It Was A Lazy Day In Paradise

Zephyr Lilies
Zephyr Lilies line the roads and fill the fields this time of year.

Tiger Swallowtail On The Azaleas
The butterflies are beginning to make their Springtime appearances.

Azaleas Are Blooming

Lord's Prayer Statue At Greenlawn Cemetery (Waycross)
Stopped by a local cemetery to see if the office was open. It wasn't. They must not work on Saturdays. I'm going to start surveying this one next and will put the information at FindAGrave for other genealogists. Greenlawn is not old but it is quite large. I really need a map of burial locations before beginning. I'll get to the surveying after our Texas vacation.

Sunset At Red Bird Acres
Well, time for y'all to go in and get ready for bed. Sleep good bloggy buddies. Hope you enjoyed the brief stroll through southeast Georgia. Spring has sprung!! Wahoo! I hope your weather is nice too.

♥ ∞