A narrow fellow . . . on the flower

Sunday morning I found this baby snake curled around a zinnia in the front yard. (Jeremy took the picture.) I was reminded of the Emily Dickinson poem, although this encounter seemed a bit more benign.

Rock City and Wendell Berry

A few weeks ago, we went back to DeSoto State Park near Fort Payne, AL, having gone there last spring and thoroughly enjoying the canyons and trails. This year there weren't as many waterfalls or flowers since it was later in the year, but it was still relaxing. We stayed there and took a day trip to Chattanooga (less than an hour away) to visit the Tennessee Aquarium and Rock City. Naomi loved Rock City. Although I will admit parts of it were a bit kitschy, it was a beautiful stroll. We went early in the morning to avoid crowds, and it was raining lightly for much of the trip, but that just made things seem more ethereal. Along the trails there were signs displaying quotations from various naturalists and conservationists, among them Wendell Berry (although they spelled his name wrong): "We learn from our gardens to deal with the most urgent questions of the time: how much is enough?" Indeed, our culture is much more focused on excess than on limits. Growing a garden forces us to concentrate on simple questions: how much do I really need? How much is too much for me to handle? What if we asked these questions about everything? I think our society would look very different.

Excellent article on the oil spill

Gulf Oil Spill: a Hole in the World
by Naomi Klein


"This Gulf coast crisis is about many things--corruption, deregulation, addiction to fossil fuels. But underneath it all, it's about this: our culture's excruciatingly dangerous claim to have such complete understanding and command over nature that we can radically manipulate and re-engineer it with minimal risk to the natural systems that sustain us."

Arcadia Mill

Within a short walk from our home is the Arcadia Mill archeological site. The mill began as early as 1817 and is claimed to be “the first and largest Early American industrial complex in Florida.” Arcadia Mill seems to have met its greatest enterprise during the 1830s. The Arcadia complex lasted until 1855 and several years later the Pond Creek dam was destroyed during a skirmish with the Yankee invaders. The site remained in ruins and abandoned until 1964 when it was rediscovered. In the 1980s the site was purchased by the Santa Rosa Historical Society and the University of West Florida and the recovery of the site commenced. In 1987 the Arcadia Mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. A few years ago, during the two crazy hurricane seasons a lot of damage was done to the site. Arcadia Mill reopened last year. For more information on the history of the Arcadia Mill visit UWF’s website

Garcon Point Trail

A Day Hike on the Garcon Point Trail, Oct. 07

Juniper Creek Trail

Pictures taken in May on the Juniper Creek Trail in the Blackwater Forest