Author Archives: John S. Quarterman

Quarterman Road Tree Canopy 2026-08-08

The first dirt road in Lowndes County, Georgia, to get curb and gutters to save tree canopies when paved, was Quarterman Road, back in 2009. Here are videos of what its two tree canopies look like today.

Quarterman Road Tree Canopy 2026-08-08, The first with curb & gutter in Lowndes County, GA

North canopy:

https://youtu.be/sddnjInkem8

Southwest canopy:

https://youtu.be/PFAcSmgcG7g

How did that happen? According to the Matt Flumerfelt, Valdosta Daily Times, November 12, 2008, Quarterman Road set to be paved,

The County overcame some objections to the project by agreeing to install curbs and gutters along the canopy sections of the road instead of the original plan that would have required clearing a wider area prior to paving. County Commissioner Richard Lee said the Quarterman Road paving project had “garnered more communication than any other project I can remember except maybe one.” Lee continued, “The commissioners have bent over backwards to try and accommodate that major concern [the tree canopies] that many of you have.” Lee went on to say, “The only final solution for making this road safe, sound and accessible consistently is for it to be paved.”

We and many neighbors sent in a petition, and many people sent letters to the Commissioners. Continue reading →

Smilax root 2026-08-05

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Re-opening the old woods road after Hurricane Helene, many Smilax roots turned up.

Gretchen with a big Smilax root

There are about six Georgia species of Smilax, known variously as Catbrier, Greenbrier, Saw Greenbrier, Lanceleaf Greenbrier, Roundleaf Greenbrier, etc. You can see a theme: viny briers.

Underground they have extensive roots, including these large nodules. I don’t know which species this one is.

You can prepare Smilax roots as a starchy food, as native Americans did. That’s a lot of work. Continue reading →

Gretchen, her sycamore, and the dogs 2026-08-06

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Gretchen’s favorite tree.

Gretchen, Sycamore, Sky, Blondie, River, Honeybun

We transplanted that tree when it was knee-high to Gretchen.

Thanks to Ben Fields for clearing the old road so we can get there more easily.

Gretchen’s Sycamore

-jsq

Snake of the week 2026-08-07

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I was watching the dogs to my left.

Then I turned to my right, and about five feet away….

Straight snake

Not all that big, 3 or 4 feet, but a well fed Crotalus horridus, timber rattlesnake. Even with the strip down the center back like a canebrake rattlesnake.

I like ’em. They eat mice and rats, and I’m allergic to those.

-jsq

PS: Have I mentioned my snake-handling club?

Dogs and birds at the pond in the morning 2026-08-06

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It is wet, but it won’t seem much like a pond without a log more rain.

Need rain

Thanks to Ben Fields for clearing the path to get to the pond. Continue reading →

Every deadfall rootball is a dog digging opportunity 2026-07-12

One of the few bright points after Hurricane Helene and all the trees it blew down is that every rootball is a dog digging opportunity.

Movie: Sky emerges; Blondie declines to go in (20M)

Sky went all the way under.

In this video she comes back out and shakes off dust.

Blondie declines to go in.

Here’s the video:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/875264315273243/

https://youtu.be/LSz3DcxtLQM Continue reading →

Hole drilling with tractor augur 2026-07-12

Even the tractor augur took a while to dig that deep.

Movie: Auguring (9.3M)

The drought means dry ground, hard to dig. I never would have had the patience to dig that deep by hand.

The hole is for a six-foot 4×4, to which I then screwed the 2×6 you see lying there. The 2×6 had ironically enough rotted off at the ground. It’s a mast to hold the electric fence wire from the fence charger up above the drive path.

Here’s a video snippet.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/796414230160200/

https://youtu.be/Pyw62CiPFyM?si=wbvFs9zW1Silsl7k