Eyesore of the week: Here’s my third nomination for Eyesore of the Week: 1305 Lake Dr. in Lake George. Two old singlewide trailers, hooked together with a monstrosity that never got completed. The trailers are now deserted, since the owner is not well and has moved away to live with a family member. Please, somebody buy this property and haul off that eyesore.
Tree scalping: After reading the article in Wednesday’s Coastal Courier about all the trees being wiped out in the second phase of the Villages of Limerick, I have to agree with Chandra Brown. I spent weeks walking through the area, with Claude Dryden’s permission, marking majestic oaks, maples, cedars and magnolias, so those trees would be spared. They weren’t. It looks like a vast desert now. During the initial work phase, a road was cut through a bald cypress swamp. This was not an old logging road as I was told. Rip rap was hauled in and placed right through the middle. I can’t describe the feeling that came over me when I drove back there two weeks ago and saw the devastation. I could see removing the planted pines, but why were all those trees I had marked destroyed? I managed to rescue some mound lily yuccas, apios Americana (ground nut) and amorpha fruticosa (wild indigo) before all the bulldozing began. What I don’t understand is, if the trees were spared at the new development across from Ida Mae and Joe’s, why weren’t they spared here?
Georgia on their minds: According to the Institute for the Future of Retirement at the University of North Carolina, Georgia has moved up to the fifth most popular place in the nation among retirees. Florida is still number one, with Texas at number two. If Georgia could just get rid of all the junk trailers, cars and boats, and clean up our roadsides, we just might move up to number one.
Did you know? When you reach the age of 70, you can request that your name be stricken from the jury list? But that is only if you want it stricken.
Beautiful beetle: I recently removed seven swamp milkweed leaf beetles off one of my milkweed plants. They were devouring it. If you go online and type in swamp milkweed leaf beetle, you will see a picture of this voracious insect. Once I found out what was eating the leaves on my lemon tree, I let it have at it. It was the caterpillar of the swallowtail butterfly. They are so beautiful. And, hey, how many people have I heard recently say they have not seen any bees in their yard this summer? Well, my yard has been full because they love my wild horsemint plants and my devil’s walking stick. I also found one of the most unusual looking insects recently — a click beetle. This solid black beetle has what looks like two big eyes on the top of its head. This is to ward off predators. One insect I welcome to my yard is the dragonfly. I’ve seen so many varieties of colors with these flying insects this year. They eat mosquitoes, so I love seeing them flit around. The most annoying and destructive insects. I’ve had lots of this year, are white flies. Guess it’s time to get out my Jerry Baker book and try to get rid of them.
Biking safety: I see so many people riding their bikes incorrectly and it makes me wonder if the bike shops they buy their bikes from even tell them the correct way. The way to measure the correct size frame you need is to measure from the bottom of your foot to your crotch, then deduct 10 inches. To give you an example, my measurement is 29 inches, minus 10 makes 19 inches. Hence, my bike frame is a 19-inch frame. If the bike shop did not measure you for your frame, you’re probably not riding the right size. Your saddle should be high enough that when you’re seated, with leg extended with the pedal all the way down, your leg should be nearly straight and you should not be able to touch the ground flat footed. If your saddle is too low, you will definitely feel strain in your hamstrings and knees. That’s no fun. Never ride on the highway without a helmet. Recently I heard a man say “it’s against the law to ride a bike on the highway.” Obviously, this man has not seen the signs on the highways that state “share the road” with a bicycle emblem on it. Bikes are a mode of transportation and must follow the same rules as a car. Ride on the right side of the road, to the right of the white line and always wear a helmet. It’s also important to have a rear-view mirror on the handlebar so you can see approaching traffic. Bikes must stop at stop signs and red lights like any other vehicle. Just always remember to follow the law and be safe out there.
Tree scalping: After reading the article in Wednesday’s Coastal Courier about all the trees being wiped out in the second phase of the Villages of Limerick, I have to agree with Chandra Brown. I spent weeks walking through the area, with Claude Dryden’s permission, marking majestic oaks, maples, cedars and magnolias, so those trees would be spared. They weren’t. It looks like a vast desert now. During the initial work phase, a road was cut through a bald cypress swamp. This was not an old logging road as I was told. Rip rap was hauled in and placed right through the middle. I can’t describe the feeling that came over me when I drove back there two weeks ago and saw the devastation. I could see removing the planted pines, but why were all those trees I had marked destroyed? I managed to rescue some mound lily yuccas, apios Americana (ground nut) and amorpha fruticosa (wild indigo) before all the bulldozing began. What I don’t understand is, if the trees were spared at the new development across from Ida Mae and Joe’s, why weren’t they spared here?
Georgia on their minds: According to the Institute for the Future of Retirement at the University of North Carolina, Georgia has moved up to the fifth most popular place in the nation among retirees. Florida is still number one, with Texas at number two. If Georgia could just get rid of all the junk trailers, cars and boats, and clean up our roadsides, we just might move up to number one.
Did you know? When you reach the age of 70, you can request that your name be stricken from the jury list? But that is only if you want it stricken.
Beautiful beetle: I recently removed seven swamp milkweed leaf beetles off one of my milkweed plants. They were devouring it. If you go online and type in swamp milkweed leaf beetle, you will see a picture of this voracious insect. Once I found out what was eating the leaves on my lemon tree, I let it have at it. It was the caterpillar of the swallowtail butterfly. They are so beautiful. And, hey, how many people have I heard recently say they have not seen any bees in their yard this summer? Well, my yard has been full because they love my wild horsemint plants and my devil’s walking stick. I also found one of the most unusual looking insects recently — a click beetle. This solid black beetle has what looks like two big eyes on the top of its head. This is to ward off predators. One insect I welcome to my yard is the dragonfly. I’ve seen so many varieties of colors with these flying insects this year. They eat mosquitoes, so I love seeing them flit around. The most annoying and destructive insects. I’ve had lots of this year, are white flies. Guess it’s time to get out my Jerry Baker book and try to get rid of them.
Biking safety: I see so many people riding their bikes incorrectly and it makes me wonder if the bike shops they buy their bikes from even tell them the correct way. The way to measure the correct size frame you need is to measure from the bottom of your foot to your crotch, then deduct 10 inches. To give you an example, my measurement is 29 inches, minus 10 makes 19 inches. Hence, my bike frame is a 19-inch frame. If the bike shop did not measure you for your frame, you’re probably not riding the right size. Your saddle should be high enough that when you’re seated, with leg extended with the pedal all the way down, your leg should be nearly straight and you should not be able to touch the ground flat footed. If your saddle is too low, you will definitely feel strain in your hamstrings and knees. That’s no fun. Never ride on the highway without a helmet. Recently I heard a man say “it’s against the law to ride a bike on the highway.” Obviously, this man has not seen the signs on the highways that state “share the road” with a bicycle emblem on it. Bikes are a mode of transportation and must follow the same rules as a car. Ride on the right side of the road, to the right of the white line and always wear a helmet. It’s also important to have a rear-view mirror on the handlebar so you can see approaching traffic. Bikes must stop at stop signs and red lights like any other vehicle. Just always remember to follow the law and be safe out there.