Gafftopsail Dad!

   Finally, the fish have returned to the Bay.  The waters are teeming with mullet and menhaden which in turn attracts the larger fish.  This is all fine and dandy except for the fact that those larger fish are mostly catfish.  Both the hardhead catfish and the gafftopsails are following the smaller fish as they come into the Bay to spawn.  Every spring, thousands of these large fish enter the Bay.  Most of the ones we are catching are females and are full of eggs. Soon, the female will spawn (lay the eggs).  The male fertilizes the eggs after the laying and then scoops up the orange, marble-sized eggs.  He  will carry the eggs in his mouth until they hatch which can take up to 65 days.  During this time, the male does not eat.  His whole existence is to protect those eggs until they hatch.  Once hatched, the babies (called fry) still stay with dear, old Dad until they can feed on their own.  Male catfish make good daddies!

  The gafftopsail catfish is named because its dorsal fin resembles a sail of a ship.  This fin rises tall on the back of the fish but can be laid flat.  Both the dorsal fin and the pectoral fins are supported by a sharp spine that can quickly injure an unsuspecting predator (or angler).  It is best to be careful when unhooking one!  While both the hardhead catfish and the gafftopsail are edible, not many folks around here use them for anything other than crab bait. Personally, I unhook and release them unless I am in dire need of bait.  Live and let live is always a good mantra.

Snow White...Pear Blossoms!

   For the past month, we have had just about every "false" spring that could be dumped on a place.  We have even had a few "false" summer days added for good measure.  Now, however, Mother Nature has said "Enough of that!" and plans for us to have a winter weekend.  This is not good!  All of the citrus trees already have tiny fruits set and the pear and plum trees are in full bloom!  What are you thinking, Mother Nature??  I guess tomorrow will find me lugging those potted house plants back into the greenhouse and finding enough things to make temporary covers for the tomato, squash and pepper plants in the garden.  Yep, I did do that.  I planted far too early but the temperatures being in the 80s convinced me that our cold times were over.  Not so.

  So...winter is not over until Mother Nature makes up her mind and there is not a thing we can do about it other than accept it.  Mom always warned Pop about planting too early..."You know we are going to get that Easter freeze..." I can hear her now reprimanding me for the same thing.  I am far too like Pop and the older I get, the more that is evident.   Easter freeze???  Does that mean that this is not our last cold spell for the season?  Easter is still weeks away!

Outside At Last!

   I may be sorry and have to repeat my earlier actions but the greenhouse is, once again, empty.  The poor things were getting too hot even with the windows and doors open.  They needed air...fresh air...springtime air.  So...I lugged the towering plants back outside and have started with their "springtime maintenance".  If March is too early...so be it.  I am tired of seeing the plants fighting for space, sunlight and rainwater.

  It has finally become apparent that I do need to "thin the herd" a bit and part with about 90% of the tropical plants.  While they are lovely in the garden during spring, summer and fall, it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to move them.  Some weigh in at about 60lbs and are about 6ft tall.  These are way too large for me to easily move even with the dolly.  Hopefully, Darling Daughter will take pity on me and cart off dozens of plants.  She can have a "rainforest" at her place and I will be blissful with less work.

  In the meantime, however, the Small Gardens will overcome their winter bleakness in a matter of days!  Son made the comment that I would be one of the few people who could totally live in a biodome without ever leaving.  Perhaps?  But I would miss my bayou critter friends so they would have to come live inside with me.  Biodome?   Hmmm?  Maybe?  No more lugging huge plants...thought provoking idea!

The Lemon Trees Say "It Is Spring!"

   After the fiasco of the past few days of toting the plants out of the greenhouse then back in again, I am tempted to do the same again.  Should I?  Should I trust that our warming trend is going to last?  It is far too difficult as an old lady to lug the huge pots but I do want the plants to be happy.  I have been trying to thin the "herd" by giving plants to friends and family but they are in the same quandary.  Is it spring?  Probably not but the plants have no idea.

  This morning when I stepped into the greenhouse, a lovely scent surrounded me.  While I like the scent of plants, this was captivating!  I knew exactly what was happening and it was far too early.  The lemon trees that were not set in the ground last year, were all blooming...inside the greenhouse.  This is fine and dandy except there are very few pollinators willing to stay trapped inside.  These plants need to be outside!

  For the past few years, the same thing has happened.  All of the fruit trees bloom early and then a late freeze takes most of the fruit.  Mom always called that the "Easter Freeze" and would scold Pop for planting tomatoes in the fields too early.  I take after Pop.  I get antsy just sitting around waiting for the seasons to change.  Plant!  Plant!  Plant!  Yep, I do have tomato seedlings already in tiny pots waiting for the proper time (or when I get tired of seeing them "cooped up" in the greenhouse.)  I am indeed pushing the season.  In the meantime, however, the greenhouse has never smelled so nice!  Think I shall linger there a bit longer each morning.

It came, but no one noticed.

  Spring has slipped in almost unnoticed.  Folks have other things on their minds.  Some are worried as their pantries are running low, some are fretting that the sore throat could be the start of something much worse than a cold, others are concerned about their neighbors, their loved ones, themselves in this time of uncertainty.  And rightly so.  Still, Lady Spring came and no one noticed.  She spread her beauty out before us and waited but no one came to the party.

  As I was out and about today, I took in the beauty around me.  Every plant was bursting forth with new growth and blooms.  Birds were singing and bees were busy gathering pollen.  A fine breeze blew in off the water making the day a delight...so much so that I had to smile and literally give a big "thank you" to the lovely Lady Spring.  Her ability to adorn the world in loveliness after the drab winter is one to be admired.  Her ability to lift the spirits of those in despair is to be appreciated.

  One of my favorite things is to see the fruit trees in full bloom.  Hopefully, this means that in a few months, those same trees will be heavy laden with fruit.  The sight of the snow white pear blossoms and the rich pink peach blossoms gives hope that the world will survive this chaotic time.  Given time, things will heal.  We will heal.  Patience and time...patience and time.

Calling Loud And Clear!

  Back behind the house, the Frog Pond has been cleaned and is ready for more froggies.   The first round of tadpoles have already vacated the water and are well on their way to being adult frogs.  The rainstorm yesterday made all of the tree frogs think mating season has started anew.  Their nightly serenade was intense last night causing me to slip out the back door to photograph a few of our locals.  I had recently pruned the wisteria vine to practically a nub so it was relatively easy to find the frogs.  The green tree frogs have a keen knack for hiding in the leaves but with little foliage left on the vines, their camouflage was all for naught.

  One of the frogs was so intent on singing his song that he never noticed me.  He kept right on with his loud chirps regardless of the flash of the camera.  Mr. Frog was bound and determined to attract a female.  It tickled me to see this normally slender, graceful frog swell up to twice his normal size so he could let his song burst forth with gusto!  It did not take long until seemingly hundreds of other frogs were chirping in unison.  The noise was almost deafening.

  The Frog Pond is alive and well with several different types of frogs vying for the perfect spot to lay their eggs and assure another successful generation.  *Just a bit of trivia...Green Tree Frogs are also called Rain Frogs because of their penchant for singing during wet weather.  Their songs seem to be louder and stronger when rains are near.*

House of Sticks

  With spring in the air, the critter world is busy nest and den building.   Most smaller birds have already created their nests and are well on the way of hatching their eggs.  The larger birds are still busy choosing mates and nesting spots.  A few days ago, a pair of ospreys was doing the fish dance where the female sits perched in a tall pine and the male does a sort of aerial dance.  He soars to great heights, drops down then goes back up.  This yoyoing is all to impress the ladylove who is watching with keen interest.  At some point, the male will catch a fish to present to the female.  If she accepts, it is a done deal and they search for a suitable site for a nest.  Then, the nest building begins.  

  An osprey nest is quite the undertaking. The things are huge!  At the start, the nest is about three feet in diameter and maybe a foot deep but, if the pair chooses to reuse the nest for several years, it can get up to six feet in diameter and several feet deep.  If the pair stays together and raise a successful brood, they add to the existing nest.  This reinforces the nest and makes it more comfortable for Mama Osprey and her young.  

 This afternoon, I was far down near the creek when I heard a loud scream.  Knowing the ospreys were near, I started searching.  Sure enough, there was a lovely one nearby.  The bird saw me but was more interested in the task at hand...or talon.  It was clutching a rather long branch which was nest building material.  Ospreys will actually break off branches while in flight.  The "grab and go" method is their preferred way of gathering building material.

  I watched for a bit but not wanting to make the bird agitated, I eased my way back up the hillside and let the pair resume their task.  With egg-laying just a matter of days away, the abode needed to be completed.

  It always excites me to find that the ospreys have chosen my creek as their home.  The number of ospreys is steadily increasing in the area which means the Bayou is healthy.  The birds will not stay where the food supply is scarce.  The Bayou is teaming with mullet so the birds know that they can readily feed their hatchlings when the time comes.  

  As I walked back up the hillside, I heard yet another loud scream and looked up.  The male osprey was headed to the creek with another branch in tow.  Ahh, happy times on the Bayou! 

Sweet Little Tassels!

  People are funny.  It seems that most folks are never satisfied with the way life treats them.  They are always looking for other things and the present situation is not to their liking.  This is especially noticeable with the weather.  Either it is too rainy, too dry, too windy, too cold or too hot.  Complaints run amok  with "I hate winter!"  "Oh, my word!  It is too hot!"  "This humidity is killing me!'  I sort of get tickled since all the complaining in the world has never changed the weather.  What the environment throws at us is the way it is going to be regardless of how much we whine.  

  In the dead of winter, most folks "cannot wait until spring" but, once spring comes and the blooms start to pop out, their love of the season changes.  "I hate pollen!"  Well, sorry folks.  If you are going to have spring, you are going to have pollen.  That is just life renewing itself.  Come on...get a grip and a box of allergy meds.  

  This afternoon, I decided a walk was due to work off a bit of that Easter dinner overload.  As I was wandering the hillside, the hickory trees caught my attention.  They were all heavy with "tassels" or blooms.  Yep, those allergy makers are out again!  For the past month or so, the trees have taken turns at making folks miserable.  Not me.  I find the trees' efforts to reproduce fascinatingly beautiful.  In my thoughts, the tassels are a lot better than the nuts that follow.   Until you have been whacked in the head by a wayward flying hickory nut, you have not felt one of Mother Nature's weirdest pains.  There is the instant of severe pain that comes with impact.  Then, afterward, there is that slow-healing bruised feeling that is aggravated with each touch.  Forget washing the hair with vigor, brushing deeply or styling the hair in any manner....for weeks!  Yes, indeed, the tassels are a lot sweeter!

  For the next few weeks, folks will be whining, sniffling and sneezing once again.  Keep tissues on hand, have a supply of allergy meds and dole them out dutifully while listening to lots of complaints about spring and how folks cannot wait until summer gets here.  (Until it is here along with the good, ole Deep South heat and humidity!)

Maybe Too Soon

  One of the first signs of spring in the Deep South is the blooming of the azaleas.  These bushes will be covered with the hot pink, pale pink, white or red flowers as soon as the temperatures warm the least bit.  Most lanes, driveways and fences are lined with the shrubs on longtime estates.  Azaleas are the epitome of the beauty of the place and are the harbingers of springtime.

  This year, at least on the Bayou, the azaleas have few blooms even though it has been warm for some time.  And it is a good thing.  For the next few nights, we are to have freezing temperatures.  The tight-closed buds should fare out well but the few open blooms will suffer.  By morning, the flowers will be droopy and sad looking.  Then, after this three day cool spell, the temperatures will warm again and the azaleas will show their true colors!

  Usually, the bridalwreath shrub blooms at the same time as the azaleas but, while the azaleas are late, the bridalwreath flowered early.  The tiny rose-shaped flowers burst open a week ago making the front yard glorious!  These clustering flowers that are on long draping branches were at one time used during weddings (hence the name).  The long, willowy branches were often twisted into tiaras for the bride and her maids to wear in their hair.  They were also roped into garlands to decorate the church for weddings.  The snow-white blooms are quite showy and provided beautiful, yet cost free decorating.  My shrub is from a cutting from the old farm.  It has been through so much with a fire, hurricanes and droughts but keeps surprising me with beauty year after year.

  Although this cold spell will put a damper on the blooming shrubs, I say it is not long enough nor cold enough.  I yearn for a good cold winter since it has been years since we have had one.  While others wish for spring, I would love for some winter.  The plants, however, really want no part of this!

Things are Changing

  The sun was shining, a slight breeze was blowing and I was knee deep in the Frog Pond!  Yep, it is that time of year again where the little pond needs a good cleaning.  There is not much better way to do this than just wade in and start pulling out the excess water hyacinths, branches and wads of leaves that have accumulated over the winter.  The chore is not one that I relish other than the fact that I get to be "up close and personal" with the critters that live in the pond.  Some make me smile while others can give me the heebie-jeebies.  I am usually ok with the larger critters that live in the murky waters but those squiggly larvae of assorted bugs sometimes get to me and there are a ton of those swimming about beneath the water lilies and hyacinths.

  This afternoon, I found hundreds of tadpoles in different stages of morph.   While I tried to save each tadpole that I found, it was difficult to do so as I pulled out the huge wads of hyacinths.  It seems that the roots are the perfect hiding places for the little buggers.  Some of the tadpoles were quickly morphing into froglets.  It was strange to see how quickly they could change when it was a necessity.  Back on the farm, during a drought, the large pond would start to dwindle.  By the time the pond became a mere puddle, the tadpoles were quickly morphing out of necessity.  Had they not been ready to grow those legs, they would have perished in the hot sun.  It was the same here, today.  As I tossed the hyacinths up on the bank, some of the larger tadpoles almost immediately "sprouted" their little legs. With these immature limbs they were able to push themselves back into the water of the pond (with a little help from me!)  This is one of the few times that I have been without the camera.  It probably would not have been a good idea to be out in the middle of the little pond with a non-waterproof camera.  The photographs were taken after the cleaning was completed.

  The pond has been cleared of the clogging hyacinths just in time for another round of egg-laying.  The bullfrogs have already done their thing as have the toads.  This week will see the little tree frogs being quite busy.  Its a good thing I like frogs!

 

Looking On The Bright Side

  We had several hard freezes this past winter.  Not many but enough that it caused problems and is still causing problems.  In the Deep South, it is not uncommon to see citrus trees growing in our yards.  Usually, the lack of winter cold makes for fine growing for these trees but that one cold snap that sees the temperatures drop in the teens for a few days harms the trees.  This year, we had a few of those hard freezes that damaged the citrus trees.  In spite of my efforts to protect the trees, a good many of the limbs were killed.  My citrus grove looks terrible but there is nothing to do but trim back the limbs and hope for the best.

  Recently, I was out wandering behind the house when a delightful aroma wafted through the air.  Ahh, citrus blossoms!  Yep, the satsuma trees were blooming on the few branches that remained green! This sight gave me hope that at least the trees would attempt regrowth!

  The blooms that I inspected looked good and had the tiny oranges intact.  No, we will not have a bumper crop this year.  No, the grapefruit trees do not have blooms nor do the navel oranges and lime trees but the satsumas and lemons are bursting forth with new leaves and blooms!  Somehow, that makes things all better.  

  There is nothing like a tiny leaf or blossom to make you realize that life goes on regardless of hardships.  That one step forward is all it takes to make things better.  I figure if a rag-tag tree that has been put through the mill can grace the yard with its heavenly scent, then I can face whatever is thrown at me.  Here's to looking on the bright side!

Its Here!

  Even though we are experiencing a slight bit of cool weather, I think spring is in full swing here on the Bayou.  That is one thing about living in the Deep South, our seasons seem to have a mind of their own.  We endure our couple of weeks of winter chill, then hop right back into summer.  Mother Nature is fickle enough to drop a few surprises along the way but, for the most part, warm is the word. 

  With that lovely warmth comes a burst of color.  The azaleas and spirea are in full bloom!  With the wisteria and citrus blooms dousing the yard with their heavenly aromas, the color splash blends right into the mix.  Early this morning, I could not help but take a leisurely stroll about the yard instead of the rapid pace hike that usually occurs.  This stroll allowed me to soak up every bit of Lady Spring's glorious contribution to the yard.  She must have worked overtime!  Lord have mercy!  The place is splendid!  

  After dillydallying around in the gardens for a good half hour, my play time had come to an end.  It was time to get back to the grind of staining those flooring boards.  What I imagined would take a couple of days at most has turned into a two week ordeal and I am only half way finished.  Each plank takes six coats of stain and clear finish so my painting hand is getting a workout!  I think tomorrow will find me toting the planks out into the garden so at least I can enjoy the beauty while I work.  Happy (Early) Springtime from the Deep South!

Peach Blossoms and Ticks

  Imagine my surprise when I found the peach trees in full bloom.  The goofy trees are thinking it is springtime and have burst forth with their lovely pink blossoms.  While this is encouraging in the fact that spring is near, it is disheartening to know that most of these are likely to be lost with a late freeze.  My meanderings, today, had taken me down behind the canebrake to where the peach orchard once stood.  Time, deer and wood borers have all taken their toll on the poor trees leaving only a few hearty enough to bloom.  With those blooming now, it is likely that we will not see any peaches this summer.  

  While back in that "neck of the woods", the old dog and I decided to venture a bit further down into the creek bed.  The recent rains made it soggy and slippery but I wanted to check for any unusual mosses that may have sprung up since my last visit.  I did not have the opportunity to even search for one moss due to what I did find.  A tick had creepy-crawled up my pants leg and made its way onto my hand.  Ok, time to get the dog out of the area!  Old Mr. PJ does not need ticks and surely does not need to cart any back into the Little Bayou House. 

  Once inside, I did a quick check on the dog but found nary a critter.  The monthly flea and tick medicines must be doing the trick for him but it was best to check him regardless.  Then, a nice hot bath and body-check led me to believe that the tick was an isolated incident and I had not been infested!  The tick that I found crawling on me, today, is a wake up call for me to be diligent when out traipsing the woods.  I will confiscate a pair of Son's long, white socks to wear with jeans tucked inside.  While this may not be a fashion statement, it will, at least, give me an easy way to do a quick check out in the field.  Ticks are no fun!  The dog, however, will most likely be banned to the yard for the duration of warmer weather.  There is no need to put him in the ticks' territory!

Can You Help Me? I Seem To Have Misplaced My Home.

  With spring comes the anticipation of new arrivals.  The Bayou is bustling with nest building, den digging and hive construction.  Many of the critters were a tad confused and got an early jump on this family thing.  Some youngsters are already old enough to leave home and be on their own.  The parents are already contemplating whether to build a new abode or reconstruct the previous one.  This nest-building has become quite the dilemma for one pair of birds.  Since I removed the wisteria arbor near the Frog Pond, a resident pair of mockingbirds seem to be flummoxed as to what they should be doing.  The male bird follows me around the garden as if to think I can magically bring back the arbor. The female sits idly atop the shed roof hoping that the arbor will reappear.  They have yet to start the chore of building that home for their future little ones. I had no idea that I created such a problem for my friends.

  A few days ago, Papa Mockingbird followed me all the way down to the pier. Once there, he fussed and squabbled with a rival male whose wifey was nesting in the small bay tree. Papa Mockingbird number one, had no intention of intruding on the other's territory, he was just wanting his arbor and was going to follow me until I relented.  Sorry, bird, it ain't gonna happen.  That arbor is long gone!

  Hopefully, the pair of mockingbirds will soon realize that something is amiss with their waiting game and will settle upon a new nest site.  With all of the trees, other arbors and shrubbery about the place, who knew that removing one arbor would create such havoc?  

Froggy Hotel Is Getting Revamped

  Each spring finds me knee deep in the frog pond as I pull out hundreds of water hyacinths and haul them to the compost pile.  While sloshing around in the murky water, I also try to rearrange things a bit so the frogs have a happy place to live.  Roots from the other water plants are thinned, new driftwood is added and any debris that has found its way to the bottom, is removed.  It is not the nicest of chores but if I do not do it, it will not be done.  The pond would soon fill with gunk and become nothing more than a nuisance.  Besides, I like my frogs!  I love to hear their nightly serenade as they call to one another. I love to watch them as they dart about the pond.  I love the fact that they eat tons of bugs! Dozens of different types of frogs and toads come to the little pond to breed and lay their eggs.  Tadpoles will rule the waters for the entirety of the summer as this is a never ending cycle.  Throw in a couple of water snakes and the area is one of my favorite places.  The critters never cease to amaze me.

  Today, I did not come across the water snakes that usually inhabit the pond.  They made a hasty exit two days ago when I first started.  The frogs, however, watched my every move from their Froggy Hotel.  Not once did they budge even when I decided to thin out the elephant ear plants and arrow leaf plants that were clogging the openings to the hollow log hotel.  I literally had to bodily remove several frogs as I did not wish to harm them.  Crazy frogs!

  Now that the pond is clean, the Froggy Hotel is revamped and the muck and yuck removed, the pond is ready for the outside to be landscaped again.  Things had gotten a little hairy there as well!  In a few days, I will leave the critters in their new home and watch from the kitchen window.  I do indeed love these froggies!

Where There Is Smoke.....DON'T BREATHE!!!

  The "Big Cleanup" of the yard is still underway.  Today, the rose garden was cleared and trimmed, fig trees "un-mulched" and about a billion acorns and hickory nuts were raked and carted off down he hill.  There, the nuts can feed numerous critters for the next few weeks but will be out from underfoot.  There is nothing worse than stepping on a hickory nut and taking a slippery slide down the hillside.  It is best that the nuts are out of the way.  As all of this was being done, my little burn pit was chugging out smoke from leaves and twigs.  The garden area was sometimes quite thick with the smoke but since we had a stiff north wind, the smoke was soon sent flying over the Bay.  Occasionally, a heavy fog would roll back in off the Bay making it difficult to tell if the smoke was the problem or if the haze was fog.  

  About noontime, I began to notice that the area was becoming quite obscured by the white haze.  Hmmm, fog?  Smoke?  Maybe a mixture?  It was about that time that my brother called asking if I smelled smoke.  Duh??  Of course!  I even smelled of smoke myself! I had been burning leaves all morning but it did not make sense that he should smell my little burn pile.  He was north of me and with the wind blowing everything south, the smell should have followed.  That said, he informed me that he could hardly see anything down his way and he thought perhaps there was a woods fire north of him.  That's it!  A woods fire would account for all of the heavy smoke but that did not bode well for his place nor the Little Bayou House.  Again, that wind was blowing everything southward...right on top of us.  A quick trip to the pier, proved that whatever was burning, it was truly huge.  Everything was blocked from view. 

  After a bit, a call to the fire department was met with "Its a controlled burn.  Everything is ok....just do not drive, stay indoors if the smoke gets too thick and, well, don't breathe."  Huh, don't breathe?  The first two directives were pretty logical advice but that last one had me pondering the smarts of the person taking the calls.  LADY!  I HAVE TO BREATHE!  

  The smoke lingered for the rest of the day even though my little burner died out. Even tonight, the air is thick with the stench of the smoke. Whew!  I am glad that I did not cause all of that!  My little burner cannot wreak that much havoc!

As Pale As A Ghost!

  It was workday here on the Bayou.  Yard work has been put off long enough and if the weather insists on it being springtime, then lets just go with the flow and agree.  Its springtime...or at least it is until the next cold spell.  So let the gardening and cleanup begin!  The first thing to go was the old wisteria arbor.  It had seen better days and since repairing it was far harder than replacing it, the thing smashed to the ground. Goodbye arbor!  You have served well but it is time to bid you farewell. Then came the woodpile.  Since few fires have been needed in the old wood stove, the pile had become an unsightly mess!  The logs too rotten met the same fate as the old arbor and were heaved to the burn pile.  Any solid pieces were restacked on the steel rack and were covered.  If not needed to supply warmth indoors, the fire pit outside will soon be in use.  There is nothing better than sitting outside around the fire pit on chilly evenings as you listen to the critters foraging around the Bayou. That makes for an interesting evening!

 It was on the woodpile that a critter was encountered that temporarily drew the attention away from chores.  A single white roach (yep, I watched the critter for a bit before..umm..ridding the woodpile of the intruder) clung to one of the split logs.  The roach made no effort to scurry away to a hiding place so I had a front row seat to observe the critter.  A white roach...imagine that!  Living on the Bayou, any number of critters can be found creepy-crawling about the place but it is rare that a white roach is seen.  Nope, it is not considered a "rare" species nor is it even remotely unusual.  Sighting one is just difficult.  Contrary to what is the common thought of the critter, it is not an albino.  The roach is just like any other roach except that this one was undergoing a specific change in its life.  Roaches are like all other critters that have hard exoskeletons.  They have to shed their old outer shells when they get too large for them.  There is just no other way to "change clothes". The white roach that was seen today was doing just that.  It was shedding...or, to be more precise, had just shed.  Its new outer layer had not hardened yet.  Once the process is fully complete, the roach would acquire its normal coloring once again. 

  The shedding of its outer "shell" accounts for the critter's inability to scamper about.  When I uncovered the critter, it could do no more than cling to the log.  Had it stayed exposed long, either a predator (such as a bird or lizard) would have snatched the tasty (icky!) tidbit for a snack or it would have been dehydrated by the bright sunshine.  At this point, the critter is highly vulnerable...to even things like my shoe!  So long, ghost roach!  So long, arbor!  So long, rotten firewood!  The garden area looks so much better already!