Native North Carolinian

I want to share this for the benefit of my readers who were jealous when they read my last post. Today it is [tag]cold[/tag] and raining. Blech! But! I noticed this moring that there are signs of life on the backyard trees. I’d show you a picture, except I’m not taking my camera out in the [tag]rain[/tag]. Not even for ya’ll.

I’ve had two [tag]bloggers[/tag] to comment on the post asking for NC bloggers. Surely there are more of you. I’m planning to get that blogroll up early next week, so you still have time. I can add to it later, I know. But if you want to be in the post about NC bloggers, and not just in the sidebar, you’ll need to let me know you are out there by next Tuesday.

We have had some [tag]beautiful days[/tag] lately. A couple of them have been hot, but not nearly as hot as it will get later. It sure is nice to see the green peeking through. Is it nice where you live yet?
The [tag]Bradford Pear trees[/tag] are just stunning right now. Here’s a picture of one I took the other day.

I am just waiting for the leaves to come out on the tree in my backyard. Last year it seemed like it was bare one week, and fully leafed the next.

From the Comments:
The fly trap isn’t tropical? I always thought it was. Or is it an introduced species that within the US is only found in the Carolinas? More information, please.

I am making this post also by request. I have to be truthful, and tell you that although wikipedia has some good things to say about the Longleaf Pine, and it is the state tree, it is a tree I really dislike. The first thing I did when I moved into my house was to clear it of pines, and this spring, I will be having to clear some saplings.

If you read the wiki, you will discover that this pine is very fire resistant. What they don’t add is that a pine tree, being so tall and straight is a lightening magnet. The trees may not combust when stricken by lightning; however, they are a very sappy tree, and that sap will get super hot, and the trees will actually explode. Picture that for a moment: boiling hot sap flying through the air, accompanied by large jagged chunks of tree. Yeah, not my favorite.

I am admitting up front that this post is here just to jibe on my northern readers, Today’s weather is marvelous. It is currently 71 degrees here, and I am going outside to sit and watch my children play.

Muhahahahahahahaha

Ang commented about the dirt that the fire ant bed was made of, saying:

I forget how light your soil is down there! I grew up with BLACK soil. I always thought the soil where I live now is light, but it looks black in comparison to yours.

I live in a coastal plain, and so I do have have a lot of sand, but what that mound is made of is actually clay. We do indeed have black dirt under the sandy top. For many, many years (like centuries) the economy of North Carolina was agriculturally based, and in some rural areas, it still is. Farming is not a major business in my immediate area, but just an hour or so down the highway, there are large farms. In some ares, you can find ribbons of clay mixed into the black dirt. What you can do with your land is based on that soil composition, and soil composition is closely related to proximity to the sea.