Category Archives: Okra Paradise Farms

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

Turtle 2024-05-10

What kind of turtle is this? It’s about 5 inches long, so presumably quite young.

[Lively small turtle]
Lively small turtle

The triple ridges with radiating patterns look to me like an Alligator snapping turtle, Macroclemys temminckii. I don’t see anything else among the 29 turtles of Georgia that is even close.

I don’t know what it was doing out in the open, 500 feet from the nearest water, which is our cypress swamp.

Anyway, it provided yet another opportunity to remind our dogs: no turtles!

-jsq

Canada wild lettuce 2024-05-06

I didn’t recognize this plant, but apparently it is Canada wild lettuce (Lactuca canadensis), aka Florida blue lettuce, tall lettuce, or Canada lettuce. Supposedly it is native to eastern and central North America.

[Canada wild lettuce, aka Florida blue lettuce]
Canada wild lettuce, aka Florida blue lettuce

It’s in the daisy family, Asteraceae.

According to Eattheplanet.org, “The young leaves and stems are edible but should be eaten in moderation. Leaves can be eaten raw in a salad or boiled to remove bitterness.”

Also, “Wild lettuce produces a milky sap, called Lactucarium, from its leaves, stem, and roots when cut. Lactucarium is an analgesic and sedative. It has been used in the treatment of insomnia, osteoarthritis, and anxiety. The concentration of Lactucarium is highest when the plant is in bloom.”

-jsq

Lance-leaved Coreopsis: orange tickseed 2024-05-02

Orange flower growing in sand.

[Lance-leaved coreopsis 2024-04-28]
Lance-leaved coreopsis 2024-04-28

Now there are three blooms.

This Lance-leaved coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) is native to eastern north America, although I don’t recall ever seeing this orange tickseed before. Continue reading →

Snake in the bricks 2024-04-02

When I moved this piece of steel roofing so I could park the truck there, a thin black snake looked at me startled.

Then it ran towards the bricks, then into the leaves.

[Snake in the bricks and in the leaves]
Snake in the bricks and in the leaves

I think it’s a southern black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus). Am I right? Continue reading →

Solar panel spring cleaning 2024-03-30

Once a year, we scrub off the pine pollen that builds up into a paste on our solar panels.

[Spring cleaning of old and new solar panels 2024-03-30]
Spring cleaning of old and new solar panels 2024-03-30

That’s all the maintenance they require.

[Old (2006) 20 solar panels]
Old (2006) 20 solar panels

Youtube playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLk2OxkA4UvyWjnmPf2_IoWUZMzvzlsvT&si=UUEQp_GztriKw28n Continue reading →