Seeking Shade

   We are sweltering here on the Bayou just like most of the rest of the Deep South.  When the temperatures rise to the triple digits in the morning, it is time to seek out coolness where you can find it.  Most folks say to "Stay indoors!"  I cannot.  There will soon come a time when I can no longer roam the property in search of magical sights so I try to cram every bit of nature into my day while I can.  Doing my indoor chores before the sun rises and then the outdoor chores before the heat slams me, I am pretty much left to my own whims by midday.  Then, I seek out the shade where I find it so as to while away the hours in a wonderland of beauty.

  Earlier, I slipped down behind the canebrake to check on a small turtle that had gotten itself in quite a predicament yesterday. As turtles are known to do, this one had rooted around in a boggy area enough to entrap itself.  The poor thing was stuck without an exit.  So, it was up to me to gently shove the poor critter from the muck with a broken cane.  Once free, the turtle seemed mighty grateful but was a bit slow-moving...even for a turtle.  Today, the critter could not be found so I am assuming it finally came to its senses and headed for the underbrush.  Since I was this far down, I figured I may as well nose around a bit.  At the base of an old live oak tree, I found the perfect "fairyland" of enchantment.  Between a few rogue sprigs of old asparagus ferns and the twists and turns of a trumpet vine was an adorable mushroom.  It was no more than two inches tall and had most velvety red cap.  Obviously, the snails had thought the mushroom was perfect, as well, as something had nibbled on it just a bit.  Still, the sight was enough to bring a smile and cause me to linger for a bit under the umbrella shade of the oak limbs.  

  This, my friends, is what I consider the perfect way to escape the heat and the confines of the Little Bayou House.  While I adore my little home, slipping away into a magical world of nature is the perfect diversion.

Tiny, Enchanted Garden

  It is a well known fact with my family that I am fascinated by mosses, ferns, lichens and the such.  Darling Daughter is much the same.  Elizabeth and I will tromp the swamps and marshes in search of anything interesting.  In fact, the fondness has grown so much that it is a great desire to have moss gardens in place of lawn.  Grass is boring.  Mosses are not.  They are magical!

  This morning while out walking the old dog, the ground shimmered with a gilding like none other. Normally this area is a deep, velvety green but, in the early spring, the carpet moss is almost gold.  This is because the moss had shot up its sporophytes!  These are tiny growths on the female moss that are actually "baby" mosses waiting to happen.  They appear to be tiny stalks with a capsule at the top.  Since they cannot support themselves at this point they literally "feed" off "Dear Old Mom".  The female moss (yes, these mosses reproduce sexually and asexually) supports the sporophytes until they are mature and the weather is perfect.  Then, the capsules will burst open and spores will scatter about the place with the aid of the wind.  The spores will fall to the ground and become either male or female mosses.  When reproducing asexually, a small portion of moss may be separated from the clump.  This piece can grow into a new moss.  

  The carpet moss is aptly named as it does indeed "carpet" the ground and appear to be a nice, soft rug.  If conditions are right, the carpet moss can reproduce and spread rather rapidly.   Mosses do require a good bit of water to flourish which is why they are readily found on creek banks, in swamps and, in my case, on a bayou.   However, since they draw most of their water from the air, the ground does not necessarily have to be soggy.  The weather this past year has been perfect for moss-growing.  The often rains and heavy fogs have kept it wet enough to support the growth and reproduction.  

  Personally, I think if the entire place was covered by mosses, it would be ideal.  After cutting grass for the past two days, it would be nice to have the ever neat and trim mosses covering the yard.  No more mowing!  Hmmm...that might be some of the allure but, overall, I think it would just be enchanting!

Beneath the Pines

  I love to tromp around in the woods.  To me, exploring even my own property is exciting as I never know what I might find.  On a recent hike through the underbrush and to a clearing under some small pine trees, I stumbled upon the unexpected find of a small camellia bush. Obviously, a seed had been dropped a couple of years ago by some critter.  It had settled down beneath the pine straw, sprouted and pushed its way back up to reach for the sky.  Although the little sapling was not more than an inch in diameter at its largest point, it was a good four feet tall and had a lovely bloom on it.  

  I thought about how that little sapling was brave to take root in the midst of all those pines.  The pine trees will grow large and tall blocking out the sun.  They will expand in girth and take up most of the room in that little stretch of the woods.  The tiny camellia will have to have some gumption to survive and will have to work hard to gain its rightful place among the pines.  On the plus side, the camellia is protected from any harsh weather.  The branches of the pine trees form a canopy above the little shrub and keep out the frost and high winds.  The pine needles are a natural mulch that can help to fertilize the bush and hold moisture into the soil.  Perhaps this could be a happy arrangement for the little camellia but I do think it will have a struggle ahead of it if it wishes to flourish.  It also makes me sad that no one would ever see the lovely blooms of the little camellia. Flowers are meant to be enjoyed not hidden.

  After finding the tiny shrub, I talked to Son about possibly transplanting it to the yard.  There we could care for it and enjoy its beauty for years to come.  Happily, he readily agreed and, weather permitting, we shall take a hike into the woods again tomorrow.  Then my lonely little friend will have a home and its blooms can be viewed by all who visit the Bayou.

Finding the Enchanted Woods!

  It was such a beautiful day on the Bayou that I had a bit of a "spring" moment.  The cold and drear is set to return tomorrow and follow for the week after.  Today, however, saw me clearing out the greenhouse in preparation for seed-starting.  Michael helped me to assemble some neat wire shelving that shall hold the seed trays and any other items that are needed in the early gardening stages.  While he and I were busy enjoying the sunshine, the birds were busy making nesting plans.  It dawned on me that one pair of birds was making a lot louder noises than the others.  Time to grab the camera!  A pair of eagles was on the wing with their courtship!  

  Since the birds were doing most of their wooing over near my brother's place, I traipsed across his yard.  As I did, the majestic birds moved even further west.  Now, they were over the overgrown homestead that used to be my aunt and uncle's place.  Well, a bit of brush never bothered me before, so it sure was not going to bother me now!  I pushed back some vines and entered under the small pines.  

  Wow!  If the birds were not still screaming overhead, I could have fully forgotten why I had stepped in here in the first place.  An Enchanted Forest wrapped around me and brought such a unearthly feeling over me.  I stood totally captivated by the beauty.  A heavy carpet of pine needles covered the ground.  This used to be green, green grass of their lawn.  Small pine trees just above my head shaded the sunlight sending bright beams to the mini-forest floor. Birds were twittering and darting from branch to branch. A lone squirrel fussed at me from a distance.  I had intruded into their space but I was too awed to ease back out of the forest of young trees. This place was breathtaking if you are a nemophilist like myself.  Even though, I was there for only a short time, I felt as if I belonged.  It was almost as if I had come home.  

  Now for that fine word...Nemophilist...I had no idea that there was even such a word to describe someone like me.  I happened upon the word late this evening and curiosity got the best of me.  The dictionary defines the word as such...Nemophilist-(n)-a haunter of the woods; one who loves the forest and its beauty and solitude.....Yep, that pretty much describes me...especially in woods like the Enchanted Woods that I found today.  How ironic, yet how appropriate, that I discovered the Enchanted Woods and the word that describes my love of the forest all in the same day!