(This is the second in a series on Invasive Species in Virginia) By Ron Messina/DWR It’s a typical summer afternoon on the Upper Chickahominy River. There’s a scattering of small fishing boats, and tons of wildlife everywhere you look—frogs, geese, turtles, and ducks. A bald eagle soars away, over the tall pine trees. Massive cypresses, anchored in … [Read more...]
Brookwood Farms BBQ
Nancy said she was going to heat up some oyster stew, so I had to fend for myself as far as dinner was concerned. But I also had to pick up my daughter from the airport at 6:30, so I either needed to do a fast-food pickup or cook something that I could just heat and eat. I had to go to Kroger’s anyway, and decided to buy some pre-made BBQ, but Doughties, the brand I like, was not in … [Read more...]
Virginia Beach Action
It’s a good time to be at Virginia Beach. It may not be warm enough to lie in the sun on a beach blanket, but the fishing is red hot. Trout, drum, and rockfish are hitting in the surf and from the piers. Trout and drum are also active in the Hampton Roads area as well as in Northern Neck waters. Rockfish are keeping anglers busy in the Rappahannock, especially at night. When boats can … [Read more...]
Rappahannock Blues
There are lots of fish that could bite in Urbanna Creek at the mouth of the Rappahannock River – stripers, trout, puppy drum, and white perch - to name a few, but they didn’t like what I was cooking for dinner. So, there I sat, bite-less. I had been throwing grubs and Ratt’l Traps and dunking Fishbites off the docks, but no takers. As long as I was just going to sit there, I went to the … [Read more...]
Boomers and Bicycles
Every Boomer remembers his or her first bicycle. Next to turning 16 and getting a driver’s license, the biggest day in the life of a youngster was getting that first, new bike. Afterall, a kid without a bike was like a fish without an ocean. The reason bikes were so critical during the early Boomer years is because families generally had only one car, and the dads had them at work. … [Read more...]
Saving the Best for Last
Frost is coming. It always does and puts a dagger into most of the vegetables in a backyard garden. But early this week, before the frost, I picked 4 of the prettiest tomatoes of the season. I suppose my little garden had saved the best for last. They were near perfect in size, shape and color, except for the one Heirloom tomato. Heirlooms are almost always a little gnarly, but this one … [Read more...]
Scolded by a Wren
I was in the edge of the woods, looking for squirrels for a potential Brunswick Stew when I was thoroughly chastised by a Carolina wren. The wren flew to a nearby bush, checking for spiders (their favorite meal). He pecked here and there and found a few, I think. Then he saw me. He was not pleased. I guess he thought I might be looking for spiders myself, and I was, but not to eat. The wren let … [Read more...]
Invasive Species: Feral Hogs
Halloween is over, but there is still some scary stuff out there. According to Virginia’s DWR, there are some invasive species in our state that pose a threat to our native plants and animals. Feral hogs, for example. Below is DWR’s report. Feral hogs (feral pigs, wild pigs, wild boar, etc.) in Virginia are defined as “any swine that are wild or for which no proof of ownership can … [Read more...]
Nice Buck
Looks like there are lots of healthy deer out there, but there is now one less. This big buck was taken in Louisa County by Ethan Hall with a bow. The ten-pointer with a 24-inch spread was harvested in the Holy Grove area. A really nice deer. … [Read more...]
Mow Those Leaves
It’s time. They’re out there, you know. Leaves. Thousands of leaves! But this year, leave the rake in the shed and crank up the mower. Your lawn will thank you for it come spring. Matted leaves aren’t good for grass. They will smother and kill it, but finely mulched leaves add vital nutrients to the soil, and help the lawn retain moisture, so the grass doesn’t become overly dry in … [Read more...]
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