Flooded pasture due to excessive rain Here in North Florida it's been an excessively wet summer, particularly in the latter half of the season. We measured over twenty inches of rain on our little farm in August and now at the end of September we've almost received a like amount. So living in a naturally rain blessed area, receiving nearly seventy-five percent of an annual rainfall in two months is quite dramatic.
Due to the rain, the pasture shown in the picture has been continually wet. The standing water shows itself after a very heavy rain, when three or more inches falls in one storm. Usually, however, it recedes quickly into the drainage channel when the sun comes out. But with the rain daily and relentless this summer, it has maintained itself as a temporary pond practically all summer.
But yesterday I noticed an amazing phenomenon that I had never seen before. I probably wouldn't have paid attention had I not noticed the large flock of white egrets strutting about in the water. Where there are egrets, there is a food source, but never would I have guessed that fish would have populated the area. Shiners, the silvery bait fish commonly used for recreational fishing, were leaping and jumping in large numbers. And even after the egrets had made a great meal of them, there were thousands left. Even raccoons were seen wandering through the water looking for a tasty meal. I guess the fish eggs had been lying dormant in the damp earth and the standing water provided them with the perfect opportunity to hatch.
Now I'm wondering if we'll start to find some crawdads in the mix soon, for several years back after a hurricane we had a bumper crop of them in the wet fields as well. That's one thing that is definite in Florida; if it rains and stays wet, things will grow, both plant and animal form. And it further shows how God has designed the earth to adjust to whatever befalls it. It's just a shame that mankind isn't so adept.
So I guess the moral of the story is we must learn to live with what we have. Instead of complaining when it's not the way we want, look for the little things that show the beauty, creativity and glory of the living earth and its inhabitants that the good Lord has given us.
All creatures great and small, in rain and sun, cold and heat, God has a place for all of them. And if we are smart, we'll learn from the things that He does, for He is truly magnanimous. Have a blessed day, everyone.
Due to the rain, the pasture shown in the picture has been continually wet. The standing water shows itself after a very heavy rain, when three or more inches falls in one storm. Usually, however, it recedes quickly into the drainage channel when the sun comes out. But with the rain daily and relentless this summer, it has maintained itself as a temporary pond practically all summer.
But yesterday I noticed an amazing phenomenon that I had never seen before. I probably wouldn't have paid attention had I not noticed the large flock of white egrets strutting about in the water. Where there are egrets, there is a food source, but never would I have guessed that fish would have populated the area. Shiners, the silvery bait fish commonly used for recreational fishing, were leaping and jumping in large numbers. And even after the egrets had made a great meal of them, there were thousands left. Even raccoons were seen wandering through the water looking for a tasty meal. I guess the fish eggs had been lying dormant in the damp earth and the standing water provided them with the perfect opportunity to hatch.
Now I'm wondering if we'll start to find some crawdads in the mix soon, for several years back after a hurricane we had a bumper crop of them in the wet fields as well. That's one thing that is definite in Florida; if it rains and stays wet, things will grow, both plant and animal form. And it further shows how God has designed the earth to adjust to whatever befalls it. It's just a shame that mankind isn't so adept.
So I guess the moral of the story is we must learn to live with what we have. Instead of complaining when it's not the way we want, look for the little things that show the beauty, creativity and glory of the living earth and its inhabitants that the good Lord has given us.
All creatures great and small, in rain and sun, cold and heat, God has a place for all of them. And if we are smart, we'll learn from the things that He does, for He is truly magnanimous. Have a blessed day, everyone.
RSS Feed