Author Archives: John S. Quarterman

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

Skeeter hawk and blackberries 2024-06-05

We were picking blackberries when this skeeter hawk landed on me.

[Dragonfly and blackberries]
Dragonfly and blackberries

The dragonfly just sat there for many minutes while I picked with my right hand.

Eventually it flew away.

The blackberries are very ripe and tasty.

-jsq

River, Sky, Gretchen, rainbow 2024-06-05

We were picking blackberries when this rainbow appeared.

[River, Sky, Gretchen, Rainbow]
River, Sky, Gretchen, Rainbow

River and Sky, the dark and pale dogs, are our two newest. They are both Carolina Dogs, a landrace breed.

Gretchen may have been annoyed that the cloud usually above her head had turned into a rainbow.

-jsq

Turtle or tortoise? 2024-06-05

I can’t find a turtle species that quite matches this reptile crossing the road. But the yellow inside shell isn’t like a gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus).

[Turtle or tortoise?]
Turtle or tortoise?

So what is it? Tortoise or turtle? And if turtle, what kind?

I set it on the other side towards where it was going. It hissed at me. Continue reading →

River escapes 2024-06-02

River got a little too ornery the other night, so I put her in the pen. By the time I was back in the house, she was outside the house door.

I tried again, making sure the pen door was latched. She did it again.

We guessed she either climbed over the six-foot fence, or stuck her nose under and lifted up the pen.

[Movie: Circus dog River (77M)]
Movie: Circus dog River (77M)

So yesterday we tried in daylight with video.

We were all wrong.

Here’s the video:
https://youtu.be/VbZJksraIgA Continue reading →