Caucus to elect delegates to DNC from GA-01, Waycross, 2012-04-21 @ DPG1 2012 04 21
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Author Archives: John S. Quarterman
Summer Tanager, Okra Paradise Farms, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 April 2012
Female summer tanager:
Picture of a female summer tanager (Piranga rubra) by Gretchen Quarterman
for Okra Paradise Farms, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 April 2012.
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Lilies and minnows at the pond 2012-04-22
Lily:
Pictures by Gretchen Quarterman for Okra Paradise Farms, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 April 2012.
Lilies:
Planted Longleaf, Okra Paradise Farms, Lowndes County, Georgia, 17 April 2012
These are the same longleaf planted in 2008, blogged 10 October 2010, burned a second time 
16 December 2011, and greening and candling again February 2012.
Pictures of Gretchen Quarterman with the planted longleaf (Pinus palustris)
by John S. Quarterman for Okra Paradise Farms, Lowndes County, Georgia, 17 April 2012.
Almost all of them survived the prescribed burn, and many of them are quite tall. The planted little bluestem and big bluestem are also thriving, along with native verbena, and some less savory invasive exotics, including trash along the road. Plus Gretchen’s favorite: dog fennel! And along the fence row cedars, pecans, plums, grapes, wild cherry, and a gopher tortoise. Here’s a flickr slideshow:
Longleaf candling at the pond, Okra Paradise Farms, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 April 2012
We didn’t know there were any longleaf at the bottom of the pond, but the white candles are unmistakable:
Pictures of Longleaf pine (Pinus Palustris) by Gretchen Quarterman
for Okra Paradise Farms, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 April 2012.
The needles are also longer than on the nearby slash pines:
Continue readingGreat Blue Heron, 22 April 2012
Heron in slash pine tree:
for Okra Paradise Farms, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 April 2012.
Here’s a slideshow.
Planting Pickles
Does the jar grow around them?
Here’s the video:
Planting Pickles
Video by John S. Quarterman of Gretchen Quarterman planting cucumbers
at Okra Paradise Farms, Lowndes County, Georgia, 16 April 2012.
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Valdosta Farm Days returns Saturday 21 April 2012
Returning for its second year, Valdosta Farm Days starts this Saturday:
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There’s a list of vendors on VFD’s web page. See also their facebook page.
Support local agriculture and buy direct from area farmers while shopping at Downtown Valdosta Farm Days.
The market presents producers from the surrounding areas of Lowndes County offering fresh fruit, vegetables and so much more.
Come for the freshness and stay for the fun at Downtown Valdosta Farm Days!
At the market, you’ll find locally-grown, locally-raised, locally-produced fruits and vegetables, plants, herbs, meats, farm-fresh eggs and dairy products, baked and prepared foods, snacks, and coffee. You’ll also find a variety of artisan and natural value-added products including products made from recycled goods, birdhouses, handmade soaps and body products, candles, gift baskets, and honey products.
Oh, look! Potatoes from Okra Paradise Farms! OPF won’t actually have those there this weekend (they only just bloomed last week), but stay tuned for later Valdosta Farm Days!
-jsq
Groundwater levels: red
In case anybody thinks the recent rains have done away with the drought in Georgia, take a look at this USGS map of groundwater levels today:
South Georgia, all red and orange. Here’s more detail.
It’s also worth remembering that while our Floridan Aquifer does recharge somewhat, that much of its water has been there since the last ice age. So if we keep mining water at a rapid rate, the aquifer will keep falling.
-jsq
How many little birds are there?
It’s kind of hard to tell with the low light, the fuzzy cell phone video, and especially with them crawling over each other. You can hear them, though!
Here’s the video:
How many little birds are there?
Video by John S. Quarterman for Okra Paradise Farms, Lowndes County, Georgia, 14 April 2012.
Probably house wrens. Nesting under the eaves of the farm workshop.
-jsq