Rain

Scene along the powerline, yesterday 8/20/12

We found 4.75 inches in the rain gauge when we returned from the Adirondacks. Then this morning there was an additional 1.7 inches. It's raining now, with 2-4 or 3-5 inches expected, depending on which forecast one believes.

The predicted wet weather didn't keep us from our training walk, but we were forced to break out the ponchos for the final two miles.

San Felasco City Park, today 8/21/2012

Daylillies

These are our first big ones of the year. Others are on the way. 

We are hoping for rain, but surely don't want anything like they got in Alabama and Georgia.

A Fragrant Spring

Three of our four grapefruit trees are blossoming--more profusely than in any of the past 14 years. As can be seen in this photo, many of the blossoms have already set fruit. The yard smells great, and if all goes well we should have a bumper crop of grapefruit come December.

Southern Blue Flag

Southern Blue Flag irises (Iris virginica) are at their peak now. We photographed this one last Monday on the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, where roadside ditches are often choked with hundreds of blossoming plants.

Ready to Go

We took one step closer to the allure of Lower Suwannee waterways this week. Here you will see our kayaks prepared to depart for the launch site. Our attachment seemed to work very well. Stay tuned for reports delivered from the superhighways.

Christmas Color

Each year the red maple tree near our shed in Cedar Key seems to get colorful just in time for Christmas. Most of our other trees are palms and evergreen oaks, so this red and yellow display provides a cheering contrast.

We missed a holiday opportunity with another of our trees. Seedling sand pine trees are always popping up in the yard, and we routinely pull them up with the abundant other weeds. This year we noticed that one of the fast-growing trees had escaped our attention and made it to nearly six feet tall. So, belatedly we removed it. With just a bit of foresight, we could have left it alone for a few more months and had it for a fresh-cut Christmas tree.

Our Red Maple