Moving The Dumped Trash Anyway

I changed my mind and went out today and retrieved all of the dumped bags I found recently in the fire lane as well as some other material that had been dumped earlier.

The bags appear to contain some old blue tarps, perhaps dumped by a roofing contractor.

This section of the fire lane opposite an empty lot remains the main problem. I also found a tire that was freshly dumped. I put it against the fence in a less visible section. I'll have to wait for an opportunity to dispose of it for free.

In an unrelated note, this has been a good season for sandspurs. I need to clear the main entry path in case I get hikers from Trek Ten or someone else.
 

A more pleasant journey north

I just learned today that CSX Corp. is finally planning to repair that horrid railroad crossing just north of the preserve on Hobbs Road.

Happy days. I travel that way sometimes, but I don't like it.

McFarlin ex Beckner call

I got a call the other day from John Beckner, author of the Lupinus aridorum description. He was looking for information on blooming lupine. He said it's possible some of the Lake Blue lupine might bloom this year, which would be wonderful.

He's working with a woman who is assembling a photo collection of scrub plants and others.

I hope to be able to meet him. I gather he's rather old, so there may not be a lot of time.

Not the first at the summit

I climbed one of the tree piles left over from last year's land-clearing work to take some photos of the expanding waves of Natal grass.

It seems I wasn't the first one to make the ascent. I found two beer cans up there and they appeared to be fresh. Glad to offer recreation for the neighborhood.

Rain, Rain, Rain, Rain, Rain, Rain

The relentless rain that arrived shortly after the McFarlin's lupine planting was just what the plants needed, I guess. The Bok folks seemed to think the moisture was good. I guess once the sun comes out again, perhaps this weekend, there be a respite.

I guess I'm wondering if the rain will give the exotics a head start, too. I need to check soon to find out.

A control program is planned. The only question is whether it will occur in time to provide any effective control.

A lovely evening sky

This has absolutely nothing to do with land management or endangered species or the Winter Haven Ridge. It was just a memorable moment on a recent evening when I looked into the westering sky and was treated to a play of light and clouds that I couldn't recall witnessing before and wanted to share it.