Mississippi – The Hermits' Rest

Inspiration for Community Parks

After leaving Tennessee yesterday, we drove and drove, partly because most rest stops where I’d listen to birds were closed due to budget cuts. This meant we got to our stopping place fairly early. We went to the next town after Jackson, Mississippi, which was Clinton, to get a few miles head start before the last leg of this trip.

I looked up things to do there, and saw the Clinton Community Nature Center. It sounded right up my alley. I almost didn’t go, because I’d had a headache all day, but Lee encouraged me. I think he didn’t want me wandering through the neighborhood where our (nice, updated Hilton Garden Inn) was located. Thank goodness he prodded me.

The nature center is well hidden in a very pleasant residential area, so you have to know it’s there. It looked small when we drove in, but it turned out to be a large, heavily wooded area. There is a stretch of the original Natchez Trace you can walk on. It’s easy to tell, as there are swales on either side of the path, like the ones you can see in Milam County along El Camino Real de las Tejas.

There are many trails throughout the park, and very many signs on the plants. There are many unusual trees, and I eventually found out why. There are also an old schoolhouse, an amphitheater, a pond, and a large native plant nursery.

I was fascinated by all the woodland plants. I could stay here a LONG time, but between 5-6pm is prime mosquito time. And Lee is definitely not a stopping enabler like Ann and Linda Jo.

When we were finished walking, I suggested we go in the log-cabin style headquarters. What a treat we were in store for! Not only was it open, but all the staff and, board members, and founders of the nature center were in there.

I did not get any photos, because I was too busy talking. This was from the porch.

Everyone was there because the Junior Civic League of Clinton was going to present the center with the proceeds of their gala, over $26K!

Photo from their Facebook page. The founders are at far left and right.

We learned that the center was founded close to 30 years ago by two retired biology professors from nearby Mississippi College (the oldest college in the state). With only volunteers and local funding, It’s built up to be this incredible community resource over time.

I had a great conversation with the director, who is also a master naturalist, and with the founders. One of them is very knowledgeable about all the plants. He just couldn’t stop sharing. But it was okay. He deserved the time we spent with him.

This place is a great inspiration for me as we work on our projects for El Camino Real Master Naturalist. Look what these volunteers have done! Of course, even volunteer organizations are affected by the government actions of late. No more Americorps volunteers. So sad.

Well, I would have finished earlier but we stopped to eat. I had delicious Boudin balls and the saltiest gumbo I ever ate.

Thrilled Lee at lunch wearing the shirt he got yesterday.

Now I’m so worried. There are tornadoes at home and more rain after 2.5” yesterday. Love to all my Milam County friends.

Home and Away Are Both Moist

I started today very early with a 6 am work question. That’s all right, because that meant I got to see a beautiful sunrise.

It was cold, but so beautiful that I just had to enjoy the crispness. During my early meeting, it sounded like rain. But there wasn’t a cloud in the sky! That mystery was solved when I got outside to feed the chickens and saw just how thick the frost was on the ground.

The “rain” was frost melting quickly as the sun hit our metal roof. Lee said there was .02” of precipitation in the rain gauge!

I sure enjoyed the white landscaping before it melted.

As I worked my butt off to get all my stuff done, the dog alarm went off. There was a big truck in the driveway. Oh yeah. I knew it was coming.

Today was finally the day the garage apartment and pool house would get their blown-in insulation! That will sure help the occupant stay warmer the rest of the winter.

The guys were all excited to do the work, but they had some equipment issues and will be back tomorrow. I’m the meantime, here are before pictures.

I won’t get to see the work, though, because I’m no longer home; I’m away. Yep. Lee and I are road tripping again. We’re going back to Hilton Head, so I can see camellias. I like working with an ocean view, as you know.

The most striking thing about the drive was how wet it was. That big rain we had on Tuesday was on our route with a vengeance. There had been much bad weather and flooding.

It’s pretty barren in a hardwood forest this time of year, but I enjoyed possumhaw holly along the roadside. It provides that “pop” of color any neutral setting needs.

It was not easy to photograph this stuff from a moving car.

Honestly, this was not our most exciting drive ever, since we’re zipping along to get there tomorrow. One highlight was Buffalo, Texas, where we got to see a bored hawk by the Taco Bell. The other highlight was in Calhoun, Louisiana, home of the small but mighty CB Superstore. You just don’t see many CB stores of any sort these days.

I managed to get work done in the car and once we got to our hotel in scenic Meridian, Mississippi, so I declare today a success. I hope it dries out tomorrow and that the insulation machine perks up.

Let’s Wander through the Deep South

Today, Lee and I took the road less traveled through the great forests of Mississippi and Alabama. I managed all my meetings so far and have been able to get work done, even with occasional sketchy internet.

I started out taking pictures of flowers near our hotel. I found an empty lot with excellent weeds. This hotel didn’t have roses, but there were a couple of cute cultivated flowers.

I have to say, though, that it was just so darned fun to drive on a practically empty road through state forests bordered by riotous wildflower displays. Lee was nice enough to stop a few times so I could get photos of plants I’d been interested in from looking out the car window.

From a distance this gorgeous cogon grass was very stinking. And it’s striking up close.

This very bright verbena covered the roadside with splashes of fun.

Those two were the ones I was most curious about. But the coreopsis and others below made the DeSoto National Forest and surrounding area fascinating and a balm for my soul. Enjoy some samples.

Lee took a more distant view at our longer stop. I look like I was having fun!

I saw lots of trees and other plants but they made rather snooze-worthy images. Now Lee wants photos of small towns. I’ll see if I can look up.

Travel through the South

You haven’t heard much from us, because we’ve been traveling! We spent two days driving to Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was a glorious two days, too. The first days we enjoyed many small towns in Texas, since the first part of our trip was on state highways. Before stopping for the night, we visited my favorite welcome station, the one on the Mississippi River. I love the two bridges, watching barges, and all the colors. Some day I would love to take a river cruise on this river!

sign2 We stopped for the night in Meridian, Mississippi. We had a huge room, but what impressed us the most was that there was tons of food in the lobby when we arrived. It was for all the people who had evacuated from the path of Hurricane Michael and needed a break. There was a real sense of community in the place, and the staff at the hotel was bending over backwards to be kind, including feeding everyone. Made me happy.

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