Getting ready for the show

I'm starting to assemble maps, photos etc. for the environmental education exhibit Saturday at Tenoroc Fish Management Area. I want to have something more memorable than the last time.

That scrub bay aroma

One of the occasional pleasures in the clearing work I do is to occasionally remove Persea humilis, the Scrub Bay. The wood is aromatic when it's cut. I wonder what it smells like when it burns.

Scrub Bay is plentiful here. It is not a listed plant, except by DACS, because of the potential for commercial exploitation, similar to Scrub Holly and Scrub Olive.

Most of the trees I'm removing along the fence line are Scrub Oak and some Bumelia sp.

Next fence line

I started work today to begin clearing the fence line near the main entrance. I got about 100 feet or so in an hour. I also found a county railroad crossing road sign that appeared tp be in good condtion. I will ask them if they'd like it back. Otherwise, I'll scrap it. I don't know how long this has been here, since I thought I got most of the stuff out of the right of way a couple of years ago. It may not have been visibled from the road, though.

Clearing the fence

I am nearly done with clearing one of the fence lines. in the south tract. I think I may delay going further because I won't be on public right of way and I want to think and talk to others about the value.

I have an unsual situation in that there is some distance between the road and the fence. About 5 to 10 feet is wooded in most places, which provides a buffer and protects the site from most illegal dumping.

Another issue is what to do with the vegetation I'm removing. I don't have unlimited storage space.

Fall arrives; signs abound

It is early November and the signs are everywhere that summer is over. Garberia is blooming. Liatris is in various stages of blooming and seeding, except for ohlingerae, which has already bloomed and is all in dandelion-like tufts of seeds. They had a good year this year; perhaps next year will be better.

The primary butterflies evident, at least in late aftrernoon, were Little Yellows and Long-tailed Skippers. A few faded Gulf Fritiallaries and some Zebra Heliconians were also around.

The fire lanes are in bad need of mowing. I have resigned myself to the fact that the fire lanes are a lost cause to anything but maintenance. I did finish clearing the fire lane and beginningn to cleart the fence line on the west side of the south tract. I also found the remains of a recently dumped air-conditioner that had pretty much cannibalized, except for the fan, base and compressor. It was near the site where I found the cart about a month ago. I wonder if they're connected. The compresssor is too heavy to carry far.

Also, I found a caterpillar on Blue Curls. It was dark brown with a lighter brown ventral stripe.