Monday, March 31, 2008

Deer Video



I sat down on a log amongst the tangle of brush looking for something interesting. I had seen 2 deer that ran off when I entered these woods. Now I was just sitting contemplating the tangle before me. I hear some movement and notice another deer slowly walking parallel in front of me. I set my camera to movie and try to get the deer beyond the brush.

I had trouble seeing the deer in my camera screen at first. As the video continues I find her. She does not notice me until a clearing. At the end she disappears behind some trees.


Romans 2:4
"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Northern Harrier


Northern Harrier's males are gray with white on the rump. 17 1/2 to 24" and have long tails.
Lighter streak above eye also matches.

I was walking along a park for lunch looking for something to take a photo of and I had not found anything I was interested in. Then this large hawk flew by landing in a tree to my right. I was on a river bluff and as this hawk flew by all I saw was the back. Shooting through a tangle of branches only a couple obstructed my view.


Job 39:26
"Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread his wings toward the south?"

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Recutting a hung up Tree


Here is an example of a tree hung-up in another tree. Beaver cut it the second time to get it to fall but the tree stayed hung-up in another tree. So they gave up :)


Psalm 56:2-4
"My foes have trampled upon me all day long,
For they are many who fight proudly against me.
When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You.
In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid
What can mere man do to me?

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Fox by Back yard Fence



Photo of fox on Easter. It must have mange on its tail also some on its forehead.


Luke 6:45
"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart"

Monday, March 24, 2008

Silver Maple Flowers



Spring is coming. These are Silver Maple flowers.


Photos taken 23-Mar-08


Song of Solomon 2:12
"Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves is heard in our land."

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Beaver Destruction


Here is a look at the destruction beaver can cause. They are an interesting animal but need to be managed in some settings. They are an animal that changes the land to suit their needs the same as humans.

Here is a link to show how to live with beaver.


Luke 24:1-7
"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entere, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? "He is not here, but He has risen Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Black Willow



Black willow is the only willow (Salix nigra) that grows to more than scrub tree size in this part of the country.


Ezekiel 17:5
"He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil He placed it beside abundant waters; he set it like a willow."

Friday, March 21, 2008

Stand of Eastern Red Cedar


Here is a stand of Eastern Red cedar. They invade pasture land and grass land before other trees can get a start. They also will grow in areas where other trees find it hard to get a start. This is a flood plain of a creek.


Ephesians 4:31
"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Sneaking Geese


Hiking along some grass and swamp land I came across these geese. I expected them to fly away as most usually do but they proceeded to sneak through the grass away from my dog and me.


Ephesians 5:29
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment so that it will give grace to those who hear."

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Beaver on the Missouri



Today I found beaver signs on the Missouri river. The wood chips by this cut tree show that the work was done not too long ago. The river has not been up this high for a while, but I would guess that this was done during the fall or winter.

Notice that there are no branches. The beaver eat those and must of carried them off to eat and use else where.



Here is an old relic of beaver activity. They worked on a large tree but only felled it into another tree.


Psalm 77:12
"I will meditate on all Your work
And muse on Your deeds."

Monday, March 17, 2008

Bottom Land Video




Proverbs 16:21
"The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness."

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Beavers Cutting Big Trees


Here is a big tree that the beavers might have abandoned. This tree will come down in a wind storm.

James 2:5
"Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?"

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Sprouting of Beaver Cut Box Elder Maple



Here is a Box elder cut by beaver and now sprouting profusely.

Many times a tree will rejuvenate itself from cutting by sprouting from the cut stump. Here is an explanation of how to select the best sprout.

The root system of the old tree will be used for the new tree and it will grow faster than a planted tree or sapling.


Luke 6:20
"And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say,
'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.'"

Friday, March 14, 2008

Beaver Dam



Here is a photo of a beaver dam I took in Nov 2001

Below is a photo of a slide where they pulled material into the water to build the dam.



Proverbs 28:27
"He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses."

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Kentucky Coffee Tree



Lat month on February 9th I posted some photos of a Kentucky Coffee tree. Today I am posting some more. There is a little variation in the bark but not much. I like the photo of the seed pods below. I looked around for some pods on the ground. None were to be found.




Proverbs 21:13
"He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be answered."

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Playing Opossum



I took 3 hours off from work today to hike and enjoy the woods. Today being the last day before rain. 70 degrees was another enticement. My dog (Molly) and I hiked, rested and took many photos.

Close to the end of our hike Molly saw an opossum and ran up to it to check it out. I didn't see what kind of animal it was and was afraid that the wild animal might tear my dog's face up. So I called her off. The opossum was playing dead so I got this photo.

Here is Molly enjoying a creek before we found the opossum.



It was an afternoon well spent. Cold weather and rain return Thursday.

Roundrock Journal has a video on opossum.


Proverbs 22:9
"He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor."

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Snow in the Valley



Here is a photo of the last snow we had which started about 10 AM and by the afternoon was melting away. I am required to snow plow during these events and I got this photo in a wooded area of my route. I am thinking and hoping that will be the last snow we get.


Psalm 41:1
"How blessed is he who considers the helpless;
The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble."

Monday, March 10, 2008

Common Merganser




When I saw the bird on the river I knew it was not one I regularly see. I took a photo of it and when I got home and downloaded it on my computer I ID'ed by the red head with white breast. Female Common Merganser.

I was fortunate to get this photo. The batteries to my camera were low and the back up batteries were dead.


Psalm 150:6
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord,
Praise the Lord!"

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Hole between Branches



What caused this hole to be left when the 2 branches grew together? It could of been a dead branch that was laying between the branches. Or was it hollowed out by a woodpecker years ago and then healed over?


Colossians 1:3
"We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you."

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Hackberry and Cottonwood



Here are a couple of photos that show a Hackberry growing up next to a Cottonwood tree.

As the trees matured they have rubbed up against each other.




John 10:11
"I am the good shepherd;
the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

Friday, March 07, 2008

2 Trees One Standing and One Fallen



Here are 2 photos of a double tree but one has fallen already. I find this often in the woods.


Psalm 37:9
"For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord,
they will inherit the land.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Spiral Chinquapin Oak



Here is a video of the swirled Chinquapin. Here is the link to the photos I posted earlier.


Psalm 66:5
"Come and see the works of God,
Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men."

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Branch Takes The Lead


Here is a tree where a branch takes over the lead when the top is broken off. The tree in the center of the photo I am talking about grows straight then curves to the right then back to the left.



Psalm 65:2
"O You who hear prayer,
To You all men come."

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Two Branches Grow Together


White oak, a low forked tree that is now growing together as the tree matures.

Psalm 34:6
"This poor man cried and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles."

Monday, March 03, 2008

Older Black Cherry Bark



Last month I posted a photo of young Black cherry bark. Here is a photo of older Black cherry bark. the younger bark is below.





Psalm 33:6
"By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host."

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Trees to Measure




Here are 3 trees I came across yesterday that I want to go back and measure. The top one is a White oak and the bottom 2 are Bur oaks. I am just IDing these by the bark. I will also double check my ID's.

The area is by a creek so it is a bottom land site.





Psalm 92:5
"How great are Your works,
O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep."

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Redbud Growth





Psalm 4:8
"In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For you alone, O lord, make me to dwell in safety."