The new moon was just a sliver in the western sky as I traveled up Highway 49 for a jaunt through the cotton fields searching for six-legged arthropods. The rising sun overwhelmed the fading darkness of the night, and the small crescent succumbed to the new day and faded into obscurity. I found myself wondering, even asking, how did the past eight months pass so quickly? It seemed like grass cutting just started, and corn, cotton, and tomatoes were just planted. Now, the grass mowing has slowed, and only remnants of dried cornstalks remain in the fields that were recently 12 feet tall, and green as a gourd. Giant combines have gleaned the kernels from the cobs, leaving only rows of stubble. Soybean harvest is following close behind, and the bottom bolls on the cotton plants are beginning to crack open indicating the summer growing season is just about gone.
Reality set in as I continued my trek towards the delta. The end of one season always gives birth to a new one. It has been like this since time began, and once again holds true. A month ago, it was fully light at 5:25 in the morning. You can barely see now at 6 a.m. The same is true regarding nightfall. At the end of July, it was still light enough for outside activities at 9 p.m. Now, just a month later, artificial light is needed by 8 p.m. The days are growing shorter for sure.
As I continued my drive, I noticed a slight difference in the color of the leaves on a few species of trees. Every year I anticipate the change, but I must admit, this one slipped up on me. The rich, forest-green leaves of the sycamore trees offered just a hint of yellow and gold. I pass by these trees weekly looking for differences in color, but I was caught off guard this year. The party started without me.
Bluestem, also referred to as broomsedge, is at the height of its beautiful aqua-blue right now. It is so easy to pick the bundles out along the roadsides and ditches as it takes first chair in the color of the stemmed grasses. Johnson grass, Vasey grass, and Bahia grass are often found growing in the same places as Bluestem, however these species are becoming “dull” as the growing season wanes. Slow down just a bit in your travels and see if you can pick out what I am referring to. Seldom do I find anyone who notices this species at this time of year. Usually, it isn’t noticed until it is a vibrant red at maturity and closer to fall. It is the prettiest it will be right now, at least in my opinion. You can let me know if you see it. Believe me when I tell you it’s everywhere and not hard to find.
I noticed a gentleman parked on the roadside of Old Agency last week. He had a tarp spread on the ground and was “probing” the branches along the tree line with a large fishing pole. I knew in an instant what he was “fishing” for. I wrote an article last year about how muscadines and scuppernong don’t seem to produce grapes like they did years ago. Well, I guess the wild grape gods heard me. The vines in the woods are loaded with fruit this year. Whether it was because of the abundant rainfall early in the season, or other favorable growing conditions, it has been a long time since I have seen this much bounty on the vines. For years I have watched the gentleman I referred to knock muscadines from the vines in the same place each year. I can tell you for a fact that his buckets will be full this year. I wonder if he’s making jelly or wine? Maybe I will run into him again soon and I’ll ask him.
If you have been following me and my writing for any length of time, you probably know what is about to occur. Even though I retired from the “corporate” world last August, I have been just as busy all spring and summer. Weeds and insects take up a lot of my time during the year, and this keeps me away from my study with pen and paper. However, the crop season is just about over with only harvest left to go. This also means that another season of writing “Outdoors in the Sun” is upon us. Each week I will be bringing to your dens, offices, and computers, stories and experiences from the swamps, fields, lakes, and rivers. We’ll be talking about flowers, arrowheads, culinary delights from the kitchen, and many other topics. We’ll discuss waterfowl and this year’s migration. The crappie bite was excellent this year and it won’t be long until it cools off enough again to drop a minnow or jig in a brush top.
The tomatoes were absolutely delicious this year, however with the torrential rainfall in the early part of the growing season, they became water-logged and then the heat finished them off earlier than usual. We may have lost a month of production, but what was produced was perhaps some of the best I’ve ever grown when it comes to flavor. The sunflowers were stunning this growing season. Though it was tough getting started with the wet spring, it all came together in the end. Football is just around the corner, and I know everyone is excited about tailgating, cocktails, boiled peanuts, and all that goes with the tradition of fall in the deep south.
I hope you’re looking forward to our column as much as we’re looking forward to bringing it to you. I’m always looking for topics that are both interesting and entertaining. We love hearing from our readers, so if you think of anything we can offer, please drop us a note or give us a call and we’ll be more than happy to produce content for your reading experience. Thank you for the opportunity to write for you and for another season of “Outdoors in the Sun.” I assure you, this is going to be a good one.
Until next time enjoy our woods and waters and remember, let’s leave it better than we found it. jeff.north@northag.net
