Like Venus emerging from sea foam….
![[River emerging from the grapes]](http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/pictures/2026-06-11--river-grapes/20260611_073244.jpg)
River emerging from the grapes
River Dog emerging from the grapes.
These native muscadine vines, Vitis rotundifolia, are growing on what we call wood henge, which is wires along wood posts.
-jsq
Me and a certain relative spent some time chainsawing a clear path here a few months ago.
![[Blondie and the water line deadfall]](http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/pictures/2026-06-11--deadfall-oak-water-line/20260611_073359.jpg)
Blondie and the water line deadfall
Then this big oak, weakened by Hurricane Helene and drought, fell right across the buried water line we were reopening.
Blondie Dog for scale.
-jsq
Sky was very helpful guarding the potatoes.
We do have some for sale, at $1 per pound.
See Gretchen’s facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/gretchen.quarterman/posts/pfbid0YxRFfETPp3QPbAmgX2zsVA9HR8iwXo9Ec33R1ZoPjHELAQgWrKE95A24JJzfSs2Zl Continue reading
Snake of the week.
This Crotalus horridus was minding its own business, but it was in a woods path I was cruising with the golf cart.
For once, all four dogs listened and left it alone.
So they’re fine, and the snake eventually crawled off into the undergrowth.
-jsq
Happened to see a heron land in a cypress tree.
Not the usual heron tree; one to the east.
I’m pretty sure it’s a Great Blue Heron. Those and anhingas are all that usually nest in the middle of the pond.
I was assisted by Blondie (mysteriously not filthy) and Honeybun (not visible).
Here is some video:
Can’t garden without dogs.
![[Blondie, Sky, Gretchen and her shadow River]](http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/pictures/2026-04-05--gardening-dogs/20260405_092002.jpg)
Blondie, Sky, Gretchen and her shadow River
Honeybun was nearby somewhere.
-jsq
A stroll after breakfast into the Desolation of Helene.
I didn’t video many of the blown-down pines, oaks, maples, etc. Some of them I will saw later to re-open some of the paths. Hurricanes: I do not like them.
Meanwhile, there are native wild azaleas, sphagmum moss, crawfish, cinnamon fern, and a few still-standing tulip trees.
Plus muddy dogs, two of them visible; the other two showed up shortly. Continue reading
Two dogs went walkabout.
River mostly washed off in her bathtub.
Sky was still wearing mud boots. Continue reading
Four rows that day, with Blondie and River helping Gretchen inspect.
Four rows the next day.
Should be enough.
And Sky and Honeybun were nearby.
-jsq
I went to find Sky in the woods. Then we went to the pond. Doesn’t look like much, due to the drought.
We went upstream on Redeye Creek to the first beaver pond. Near there, Sky also played circus dog. Continue reading
![[Sky helping dig taters]](http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/pictures/2026-06-03--potatoes/20260603_083720.jpg)
![[Canebrake Rattlesnake]](http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/pictures/2026-05-19--timber-rattler/20260519_193250.jpg)
![[Movie: Heron landing (52M)]](http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/pictures/2026-04-26--heron-in-tree/20260426_124437.jpg)
![[Wild Azaleas]](http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/pictures/2026-04-02--tulip-trees/20260402_083534.jpg)
![[River in her bathtub]](http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/pictures/2026-03-28--river-sky-bath/20260328_171640.jpg)
![[Blondie, River, and Gretchen]](http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/pictures/2026-02-07--potatoes-planted/20260207_153931.jpg)
![[Sky at top of the pond]](http://www.okraparadisefarms.com/pictures/2026-02-05--sky-ponds/20260205_162507.jpg)