The above thumbnail (click on the image to see the full image) is an aerial view of the property. The white line going down the middle of the property is a road. At the bottom of the photo is another road, the major subdivision road, specifically. To the left of the little road is my property. It begins at the major road and ends at the end of the small road. The green line going around the property is a small river, called “long pond”. So, the property is between the small road and the river–it’s an acre wide and six acres long.
This shot is of the caterpillar sacs which I spoke of in “It’s raining caterpillars!” several weeks ago. I guess the caterpillars develop in these sacs, then leave the sacs during the Spring season. The host tree is then stripped of the tender vegetation that has just sprouted and when the caterpillar has eaten his fill, he falls out of the tree spinning a web as he falls to the ground below. Thousands of the caterpillars eat and fall from the trees before either getting eaten by lizards, frogs, and birds or making their escape to another tree to strip its vegetation also.
Wooded areas of the property.
Hubby on the 4-wheeler
A magnolia tree we found on the property, approximately ten to twelve years old, planted by the previous owners.
GS1 is learning to drive a 4-wheeler. I had never seen a more serious student, if only he would pay as close attention to his homework.
This little guy nearly scared me to death as I followed a trail on the four-wheeler; he was on a branch of a tree, approximately eye level. When I ran to the truck to grab the camera, I was supprised to find him in the same place. After the racket I made with the 4-wheeler, most little creatures would run, he didn’t try to strike at us or act aggressive in any way. Hubby thought he was digesting food which kept him from running away from me. He was nonpoisonous and as far as I could tell, he was a Garter Snake. After taking some horrible photos with a camera that I wasn’t used to yet, we left him alone to slither off into the brush several minutes later. “Nice to meet you little guy, also thank you for staying still for the photo-ops, but you know we’re moving here eventually don’t you?” I’m wondering how harmonious our relationship will be when that time comes.
Tags: caterpillars, four-wheeler, Garter snake, Magnolia tree, Planter's Point
