The Termites Started It!

   The termites started this battle of bugs around the Bayou.  After Hurricane Katrina nigh on twenty years ago, termites started munching on the mountains of debris that were left behind by the storm surge.  It took years for the Coast to scramble out from under the piles and piles of smashed houses and downed trees.  In that time, termites happily chomped away on the mess.  Then, those critters took flight and aggravated the daylights out of everyone.  Not many thought about how the termites that were swarming were leaving their handy debris pile homes to infiltrate the newly built or repaired structures.  So...the termites made themselves at home yet again.  Once folks became aware that their houses were in danger of being totally eaten, the war began.  People sprayed their homes and outbuildings in hopes of eradicating the critters.  Nope...it is not that simple.  The termites moved elsewhere and continued chomping now infesting live trees.  It took several years before anyone thought that the termites were killing trees!  And the swarms continued...until just about every tree along the Coast has been damaged, if not completely destroyed.  Well, the termites are on the move again to who knows where.  The swarms let us know that the battle has not ended.  It has only relocated.  

  Now, there is a "new kid" in town.  The Neoclytus scutellaris has made an appearance. This is also known as the Gray-winged Neoclyt-Borer and, as you can tell by its name, it eats wood.  Once the termites infested the live trees and weakened them to the point that they are literally dying, this critter came to take advantage of the situation.  The Gray-winged Neoclyt-Borer is almost exclusively associated with dead or dying oak trees.  This saddens me greatly as I have always loved the old oaks that dotted the property.  They stood through storms, fires and humans only to be taken down by some tiny critters.  I cannot be unduly furious with the borer as it is only finishing up the work started by the termites.  I do wonder just what is next on the agenda for those nasty termites.  I do believe it is high time they leave the Coast.  They have already pillaged extensively to the point that just mentioning their name brings groans from all of the locals.  It seems that this Battle of Bugs will be never-ending.

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.

Its a Start!

  Years ago when Hurricane Katrina whipped through the area, she left little behind that was recognizable.  Things around here were pretty much obliterated.  We were among the fortunate as the Little Bayou House withstood the ravages of the storm.  It had major damage but was still home.  We tore down what was needed, repaired and rebuilt.  The land, however, was in total destruction.  Huge ruts were washed in the hillside, over a hundred large trees were down and there was nary a bit of green left anywhere.  The house has been mostly restored and Mother Nature has done a remarkable job of mending her wounds.  Things are different but the place is pretty much back to normal. Whatever that is.

  One thing that Katrina took was the Spanish Moss that draped each old oak tree.  The moss gave character the the Live Oaks that dot the hillside.  Where and how, the storm took the moss is beyond me.  It was just gone...never to be seen again.  I so missed this icon of the Deep South.  I yearned to have it wafting in the Bay breezes, so much so, that I envied places that still had it and threatened to swipe a bit!  

  I tried draping the moss from a florist shop in the trees but, obviously, that was a moot point.  Their Spanish Moss is treated and is not still living.  I bemoaned the fact that my trees were bare!  Then, the same waters that were churned by the hurricane, brought in a replacement.   Being just a tropical storm, the surge was not nearly as intense as Katrina's but gave just enough high tide to throw a few things into the yard.  As I was cleaning the mess, a bit of tangled moss caught my eye.  Spanish Moss!  A small clump had been flung from a tree across the Bay and rode the waves to the front yard!  

  I was not sure if being dunked in salt water would kill the moss or not but I had to try.  I rinsed the moss and tossed it into the low-lying limbs of my favorite Live Oak tree!!  For months, the tendrils seemed to be drying out which saddened me.  Today, however, a bit of life could be seen returning to the clump!  Oh, my goodness!  It almost felt like I was finally coming home!  

  Hopefully, the Spanish Moss will continue to grow and actually thrive in the oak tree.  It would be grand to have the trees all dripping with the long tendrils of greenish-gray moss once again.  I know it is a small thing but it means the world to me!