Category Archives: Okra Paradise Farms

Half way between Atlanta and Orlando and all the way to paradise!

Gretchen measuring banana leaves 2025-03-19

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A few days before, Gretchen whacked off the tops of these banana plants with a machete. She says this is necessary after they freeze in the winter.

[At least a foot]
At least a foot

That leaf measured a foot of growth.

[Sproing]
Sproing

River and Blondie assisted. -jsq

Garter snake and obvlivious dogs 2025-03-18

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I almost stepped on it, and the dogs never saw it.

[Garter Snake]
Garter Snake

All four dogs walked right by this harmless (to dogs and humans) eastern garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis.

[Oblivious dogs]
Oblivious dogs

-jsq

Hurricane debris daybreak 2025-03-11

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In case anybody has forgotten Hurricane Helene:

[Hurricane Debris Daybreak]
Hurricane Debris Daybreak

This is directly in front of our house. Continue reading →

Cypress Swamp pollen 2025-02-27

The cypress swamp is full of water and pollen.

[Cypress swamp pollen]
Cypress swamp pollen

That slash pine on the left is an example of a tree blown down by Hurricane Helene that still has a rootball and green needles.

Maybe some day soon the pine salvage operation will get here for such trees. They can’t survive like that, and they have some value as saw-timber of pulpwood.

-jsq

AT&T fiber optic cable to the driveway 2025-02-23

For a dozen years, Lowndes County, Georgia, has had it as “one of our top priorities” to get broadband Internet services to more of its people.

Could it finally be happening?

[Cryptic markings, digging, polishing, and flower pot]
Cryptic markings, digging, polishing, and flower pot

A month ago I noticed these odd markings on the road out front: Continue reading →

LeConte Pear Tree 2025-02-24

This is one tree in two locations.

[Driveway and garden LeConte Pear Tree]
Driveway and garden LeConte Pear Tree

It’s a LeConte pear, introduced to Georgia in 1856 John Eatton LeConte. He was the uncle of my second cousins thrice removed Professors John and Louis LeConte. Continue reading →

Yellow Jessamine 2025-02-17

A sign of spring.

[Yellow Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens]
Yellow Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens

Its yellow flowers grow on vines, Gelsemium sempervirens.

Often you will see the flowers on the ground and have to seek upwards to find where they fell from.

-jsq

Rarely seen: mother and daughter lawnmowers 2025-02-02

Not every day do you see this: the mama mower carrying the child lawnmower.

[Piggyback mowers]
Piggyback mowers

That’s an EGO electric mower. Way better than any of the old gasoline lawnmowers we’ve had: cuts better, starts immediately, easier to handle.

Sniffing about is Sky the dog.

Also, the tractor mower had a hairball.

Or, rather, an electric fence ball.

I’m not saying how long it took me to get that thing out from under there. Continue reading →