After so many of these walks it has become like the famous environmental journey of Aldo Leopold in his book. "A Sand County Almanac" It is a story of a man who chronicles the changes of the seasons and the land as he walks the same woods over and over. He travels deep but not far. Thanks to one of my favorite professors Peggy Carr for introducing me to the book.
Any way here is the of woods right off SR 326 in Marion County, FL. Just a few miles from home.
It's a well managed turkey oak wire grass community. You can see the horse riding trial
And because of the burn the star of this blog post is the humble paw paw. They can flourish in the lack of underbrush. Paw paw is one of my favorite flowers because of their ghostly lilting appearance and they are in bloom now. Some years have a better bloom than others dependng on the weather. The bloom last year was prolific. (if you noticed) ( I did)
Delicate - odd - different - unlike other flowers
I search myself for the reasons I appreciate them over other flowers.
You don't often see them but I don't think they are rare.
I like the fact that they bear an edible fruit, and I like the name - Paw Paw. I would taste one if I found it ripe, but then leave most of it for the gopher tortoises.
odd, strange - different - special.
Whenever I walk here I am obliged to take this picture and other pictures of young pine trees.
But these are the stars of this hike.
I have never seen this flower here before. I will post on facebook and hope for an ID.
I hope the viewers of this enjoy the paw paw flowers like I do.
but there are many little slices of nature here for us to enjoy and delight in.
Or don't even get caught up in the names of things - just enjoy the whole thing as the
beautiful unified creation that it is. This looks like home to me.
I saw a dead bear too but decided not to post.
