The 2020 Persimmon Seed Forecast

If you split a persimmon seed from a ripe fruit and look at the form inside, it will predict the winter weather, according to folklore. The Farmer’s Almanac website has a few photos of the different shapes.

I split two seeds open, and I discovered a spoon in both. This means that we will have a lot of snow here in western Arkansas.

Fork shape = winter will be mild;
Spoon shape = there will be a lot of snow;
Knife shape = winter will be bitingly cold that “cuts like a knife.”

Persimmon Seed Spoon Shape
Persimmon Seed Spoon Shape
Persimmons And Spider Web
Persimmons And Spider Web

The Persimmons in the second image were at the Sally Jones Causeway (Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma). I took the photo from inside my pickup. I had my camera and lens resting on a bean bag draped over the open window of my pickup.

Gear Used:

  • Camera: Fujifilm X-T3
  • Lens: Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM (attached with a Fringer EF-FX Pro)

Technical:

  • Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
  • Date and Time Taken: [Read More…]
2023-02-01T15:37:47-06:00September 16, 2020|Categories: Landscapes|Tags: , |Comments Off on The 2020 Persimmon Seed Forecast

An Acorn On An Oak Tree

There is an Oak Tree that is full of acorns near the Phillip Parks Memorial Fishing Pier at Reeves Slough (Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge – Oklahoma). Lots of animals depend on acorns for food.

An Acorn
An Acorn

Acorns are one of the most important food sources for a variety of wildlife species, including deer, squirrels, and birds. These small nuts are packed with energy, protein, and essential vitamins and minerals, providing essential sustenance for animals during the winter months when other food sources are scarce.

Deer are perhaps the most well-known consumers of acorns. They use their sharp hooves and strong jaws to crack open the tough shells and extract the rich, nutritious kernels inside. In some areas, acorns can make up a significant portion of a deer’s diet, and the availability of acorns has been shown to impact their populations and health.

Squirrels are another major consumer of acorns, and they play a critical role in dispersing the nuts and promoting the growth of new oak trees. Squirrels are excellent at storing acorns, burying them in the ground and marking the location so they can return later to retrieve them. This behavior not only ensures the squirrels have a reliable source of food throughout the winter, but it also helps to germinate new oak trees and promote forest regeneration.

Birds also rely on acorns as a [Read More…]

2023-02-05T02:22:08-06:00September 7, 2020|Categories: Landscapes|Tags: , |Comments Off on An Acorn On An Oak Tree

Two Mushrooms In The Ouachita National Forest

After a nice rain, I hiked into the Ouachita National Forest here in Arkansas where I found these two Mushrooms. I’m not sure what they call these.

The Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas is a rich and diverse habitat for various species of fungi, including mushrooms. This forest is home to a large variety of edible and poisonous mushrooms, and it is important to be able to identify them correctly for safety reasons.

A Couple Of Mushrooms
A Couple Of Mushrooms

I got low while hand-holding my camera and lens to photograph these Mushrooms.

Gear Used:

  • Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark2
  • Lens: Canon EF 100 – 400

Technical:

  • Location: Ouachita National Forest (Arkansas)
  • Date Taken: August 18, 2016
  • Aperture: f8.0
  • Shutter speed: 1/80 sec.
  • ISO: 1250
  • Metering Mode: Evaluative
  • Exposure Compensation: -1/3 EV
  • Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
  • Focal Length: 400 mm

Related Posts:

  1. Cobweb Disease On Mushroom?
2023-02-23T04:50:05-06:00August 18, 2020|Categories: Landscapes|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Two Mushrooms In The Ouachita National Forest

Photos From Grand Teton National Park

Here are a few photos I made (June 2017) while visiting the Grand Teton National Park. This was my third trip, and I wanted to make more landscape photos than I normally do. I did a lot of hiking near most of the lakes in the area so I packed light. I left my wildlife camera at camp and carried my Fuji X100T camera. I took my wildlife camera out some and got a few wildlife photos. Wildlife was not my major thing that trip.

Grand Teton National Park 1
Grand Teton National Park 1
Grand Teton National Park 2
Grand Teton National Park 2

How I Got The Shots – Grand Teton National Park

I was hand holding a Fuji X100T camera.

• Location: Wyoming
• Date Taken: June 4, 2017
• Aperture: f11
• Shutter speed: 1/250 sec.
• ISO: 200
• Exposure Bias: 0 EV
• Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
• Focal Length: 23 mm
• Camera: Fujifilm X100T

2022-12-27T15:34:08-06:00June 17, 2020|Categories: Landscapes|Tags: , |Comments Off on Photos From Grand Teton National Park

Jed Johnson Tower

On a recent trip to the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I discovered the Jed Johnson Tower, a fascinating piece of history sitting…

2023-02-10T08:47:03-06:00March 25, 2020|Categories: Landscapes|Comments Off on Jed Johnson Tower
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