Author Archives: John S. Quarterman

Gopher tortoise

This gopher tortoise was on the edge of the pavement.

[Gopher tortoise, 2024-08-10, 10:23:19, 30.9942320, -83.2697720]
Gopher tortoise, 2024-08-10, 10:23:19, 30.9942320, -83.2697720

Since the Gopherus polyphemus was not actually crossing Quarterman Road and seemed to be in no danger, I took a picture and moved on.

As you probably know, gophers are a keystone species, whose burrows host up to 300 other species, from insects to rattlesnakes.

This was on the way to the Neighborly morning chainsawing 2024-08-10.
http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/blog/?p=9507

-jsq

Neighborly morning chainsawing 2024-08-10

This oak tree was still on the phone line, blocking Quarterman Road, almost a week after Hurricane Debby. So a bunch of neighbors removed it.

[Neighborly chainsaw cleanup of oak on phone line 2024-08-10, SW Quarterman Road, by Brooks, Ashley, Larsen, Barzallo, and Quarterman families]
Neighborly chainsaw cleanup of oak on phone line 2024-08-10, SW Quarterman Road, by Brooks, Ashley, Larsen, Barzallo, and Quarterman families

Here are some video snippets:
https://youtu.be/n41Tm07huCQ

Thanks to William Brooks, elder and younger, Dennis Ashley, Tom Larsen, Alexandria Larsen, Racheal Brooks, and Max Barzallo.

Thanks to Wild Green Future for the grant that bought the WWALS 24-inch Husqvarna 460 chainsaw that I used to saw the main trunk. Turns out the oak heart was mostly rotten, which may have something to do with why it blew over.

-jsq John S. Quarterman Continue reading →

Tiny canebrake rattlesnake 2024-08-17

This timber rattlesnake was crossing our front driveway. Four dogs walked past and didn’t notice.

[Tail and Head, canebrake timber rattlesnake 2024-08-17]
Tail and Head, canebrake timber rattlesnake 2024-08-17

In their defense, this snake was only maybe a foot and a half long. Still, a nice canebrake, Crotalus horridus.

Eat mice and get bigger, snake. Continue reading →

Rat snake Black racer and dogs 2024-06-06

Update 2024-06-16 The snake experts say it’s a black racer (Coluber constrictor). I’ve come around to that identification, because it doesn’t have the narrow neck and wide head of a rat snake, and its body is round in cross-section, not loaf-shaped. Also, it struck like a cornered black racer. See this reference. I was just surprised it didn’t run away fast like a typical black racer. Maybe four dogs made it think cornered. Anyway, black racers also eat rodents, so happy munching, snake.

All four dogs didn’t like this rat snake at the workshop door, although only Blondie and Honeybun feature in these pictures.

[Dogs, snake]
Dogs, snake

It appears to be an eastern rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), with the white under its chin and side of head and otherwise black body.

It did try to strike at the dogs when they got close, but once I called them off it slithered back under the bench, and onwards.

Here’s a video:
https://youtu.be/e5AvoYPQmTE Continue reading →

Yellow Dog’s rosemallow, three years later 2024-06-09

This is Yellow Dog’s Halberd-leaved rose mallow (Hibiscus laevis).

[Rosemallow, Yellow Dog, three years later]
Rosemallow, Yellow Dog, three years later

Three years ago, on June 12, 2021, it was the last one she saw. She was fourteen years old. Continue reading →

Turtle, dogs 2024-06-09

A small turtle crossing the path to the garden. It’s maybe 4 inches long.

[Turtle, dog leg]
Turtle, dog leg

That’s Sky’s dog leg.

None of the dogs noticed until I’d been looking at the turtle for quite some time. Blondie, Honeybun, Sky, and River sniffed and moved along.

I think it’s a box turtle, but I didn’t pick it up to see, since it wasn’t in the way and it was in no danger.

[Turtle and dog leg]
Turtle and dog leg

[Turtle back]
Turtle back

[Turtle front]
Turtle front

-jsq