Being a ‘northerner,’ rice fields were not something I ever spent much time thinking or learning about. My loss.
At Brookgreen Gardens, they are a large part of the gardens’ history. Brookgreen’s 9,100 acres was originally composed of four rice fields that date back to the 1800’s when rice was a very important cash crop.
On a nice day last week, a couple of us hiked the rice field paths.
We also saw some interesting lichens. I’m definitely not knowledgeable about lichens in South Carolina. I can share that lichens are composed of a fungus, algae, and most likely a yeast that need an undisturbed area, time, and fresh air to thrive.
When I was trying unsuccessfully to identify these lichens, I saw this comment: “Lichens are the Marines of the botanical world. They are the first organisms to go where nothing else dares.” 🙂
We are all captivated by a beautiful flower like this pretty magnolia blossom.
Most times there is also beauty to be found in the surrounding areas ‘if’ we look for it.
I need to remind myself of that periodically.
The first couple of years we came south in the winter, we saw Snowy White Egrets almost everywhere we looked. Now, we see very few. I’m guessing they have moved to other roosting sites.
On our rice field hike, we saw one, but my iPhone camera certainly didn’t do him justice.
Have a great week, and Happy Valentine’s day! ❤️ I’m thinking chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, then again I think that most days. 🙂
NewEnglandGardenAndThread 
So beautiful! As a northerner myself, I’ve never pondered much about rice growing!
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They could ask us about Maple Syrup, and we could talk for quite a while. 🙂
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Oh yes!
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The rice fields used to sustain huge flocks of blackbirds and bobolinks in winter all throughout the southeast. Many of those farms are no longer growing rice, so bobolinks particularly are in decline. It must have been interesting to learn about those early days of growing it.
The magnolias and azaleas must be getting ready to bloom en masse. Keep us posted! 🙂
Have a great week, Judy!
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I’m not familiar with bobolinks, but now I am. The coloring on their heads and wings is pretty interesting as well as the old name of ‘rice bird.’ Thanks for additional info. Yes, I’ll keep the photos coming until you guys tell me ‘enough already.’ 🙂 Have a good week, Eliza.
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The males are quite dapper, but it is their song that captivates: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bobolink/sounds
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As a rice lover, I am very much aware of Carolina rice. That last picture is a beauty even if it might not have come out exactly the way you wanted. That splash of white under the trees and in the water is striking.
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He was looking good in the moss. iPhones take great shots until I try to zoom in too far and then it’s not as clear as a regular camera. Oh well, the iPhone is what I had with me. 🙂
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Yup, and you managed to get a stunning picture even with iPhone.
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Your last photo of the egret is really eye catching. I can see this as an oil painting.
Very interesting about the rice fields. I also have never given any thought to how rice is grown or harvested. I just buy my bag of .Carolina rice and cook according to directions!
I love the comment about the lichens, not to mention the pictures of them.
Happy Valentines Day to you and Dennis. I agree, chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate! 🤗
Ginger
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I like that egret shot, but sure wish I could have taken it closer or had a ‘camera’ with me. Yes, until visiting here, I never had a clue about how rice was grown. Lichens as Marines made me smile too. I had half a big chocolate cookie with coffee, and I have a few chocolates for later. Forget the fresh flowers on Valentine’s Day and bring on the chocolates. Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Michael, and I hope you had a special dessert too!
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There’s a huge area of California that grows rice and I go every year in the winter to bird in and around them. They’re great birding stop overs here.
I love Lichen too it’s so neat and different. I’d never heard that saying about it being the Marines of the botanical world. I won’t forget it now.
Your Egret under the hanging moss is wonderful. I love the reflection it’s so clear!
Yes, to chocolates!! I hope you have a lovely day and week!
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That’s interesting about the rice and the birds. I’ve always found lichens interesting, but the one with what looks like moss just made me smile. Thanks about the Egret shot. If you’d been here with a camera and longer lens, it could have been better. 🙂 Have a good week.
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After the harvest and the fields dried out they flood them and then the birds come for winter. It’s part of the Pacific Flyway. The birds help the farmers by eating up the leftover rice and they get food. It’s a cool system. 😀
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Joining the others to heap praise on the egret photo! Such a beautiful composition evoking emotions of loneliness or solitude or peace – whatever your soul happens to need at the moment. The bird and its surroundings captured in reflection is beautiful!
My traditional Valentine’s Day surprise has already arrived! A nice fat box of chocolate covered nuts awaited me next to the coffee pot along with a sweet note and a cute, funny card from our cats! I don’t need much, but I DO need those things!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Judy!
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I’m glad you liked that photo. Chocolate covered nuts – now, that’s a gift to make a woman smile with contentment. He knows you well. 🙂 Hope it was a great day, my friend.
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Learning about the rice while out enjoying nature – what a fun day. Your egret under the Spanish Moss is wonderful. Enjoy your chocolate!
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Thank you. I hope you had a special dessert too!
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Isn’t amazing when we learn about the area we visit as we stroll along. And now Carolina Rice is one of them.
When we were in Seattle this past December we found lichen… its so interesting and beautiful.
The Egret is a beauty!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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I bet your place is shouting Valentine’s Day. 🙂
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Very interesting post, Judy. The Magnolia is absolutely beautiful, and I love the comment about the Lichens, I’d better read up on them.
Yes, Valentine’s day (and Easter) are big chocolate times for me too. Enjoy the day.
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I have a lot of lichens at home on trees, but none with these cups nor moss. 🙂 Hope you had some good chocolate. I did. 🙂
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I am still around although mostly on my WordPress blog. I wished everyone a stress-free Valentine’s day.
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Glad you’re still doing well, and I hope you had a nice Valentine’s day including a good dessert. 🙂
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That looks like a very interesting hike, Judy. I love hikes through areas where you can learn something. I think the egret photo is very nice – I love the reflection.
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PS – I hope you get the chocolate 🙂
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I did – it was spelled ‘Russell Stover.’ 🙂
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😊
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We normally stay on the concrete walkways, but because it was dry we could walk the areas around the rice fields. It is interesting to walk in areas full of history, kind of like our own New England areas like Concord and Lexington.
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I’ve never thought about rice being grown in the United States but I suppose given the right conditions it makes sense. I made Linzer cookies with heart cut outs for Mr ET for V Day!
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Oh, Mr ET must have had a big smile on his face while enjoying those treats. 🙂
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And he’s still enjoying the last few.
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Anywhere with water is likely to attract birds. I know Carolina has lots of rice and I found a heritage California rice at Aldi of all places. The rice growing area you showed here is certainly different from those in Asia. 🙂
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I know first hand how to grow potatoes, but rice is a whole different process that most of us will never fully appreciate when we pull that box or bag off the shelf.
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I knew we grew rice in California — I didn’t know we grew it on the east coast. Really interesting and great pictures.
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Thanks. Hope all is well at home in New England. 🙂
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I have come to the mindset as well that I need to start looking for the beauty in the areas around me. I’ve decided that as a birthday present to myself (the husband has jumped on the bandwagon to help now) that I am going to buy a camera and get out there and get snapping this year.
I love that photo of the egret and lichen is cool!
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Maybe you could throw a photography course in with those accounting ones. 🙂
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I have looked into it! The same school sometimes offers an all day photography class at their tech location. 🙂
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How interesting about rice fields. I don’t think I knew that rice was grown in the U.S. Lichen, though, I do know about! It grows on tree trunks where I live. It’s really beautiful, and seems so prehistoric.
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Beautiful and prehistoric definitely describe lichens. 🙂
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What a wonderful post! I know nothing about your rice fields but love the wooden artefacts. White egrets only appeared here in the UK few years ago but already they are quite common and oh so beautiful and graceful.
Couldn’t agree more about your feelings for chocolate – Jude and I are exactly the same. Yum!
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The white egrets use to roost just a few blocks from here, and it was a truly amazing site. The majority have moved on, and if only I knew where I’d certainly visit. They are so beautiful. Yes – more chocolate, please. 🙂
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Very interesting. I’m not sure (other than Carolina rice) if there are a lot of rice production in the states these days but it’s very interesting.
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It’s definitely an interesting part of our history and how the Gullah African Americans made growing rice here possible. Brookgreen Gardens fosters understanding and respect for their contribution to this area.
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That egret photo is wonderful! Ditto the close-up of the lichens, which are such weird things, aren’t they? Jeff the Chef, above, has the exact right word for their look: prehistoric. The magnolia is lovely, and you make a good point about looking for beauty; we desperately need it these days. And chocolate! Yes, there is beauty to be had there too!
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If you’re scrolling around the web today, look up resurrection fern. I find them fascinating like the lichens. They grow on most of the live oaks at Brookgreen, and are lush and green when they’ve had rain, turn brown when they don’t, and green right back up the next time it rains. Chocolate cures many ailments or so I tell myself. 🙂
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Of course I had to look it up right away! How fascinating! What wonders you are seeing. And I totally agree that chocolate cures many ailments; I’m almost sure that’s a scientific fact.
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Lovely images Judy – your egret is framed so perfectly by those branches! If you want to see loads of egrets and gorgeous blue herons you need to come south to Magnolia Gardens. There are hundreds of nesting birds very accessible. Well worth the trip I promise!
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That’s a destination we’ve talked about. 2 hours – not bad. 🙂
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Judy, I am a ‘southerner’, but rice isn’t a crop that made its way into Florida and is something I know nothing about. I first learned about rice crops in the south from a ranger talk on Cumberland Island, GA a couple of years ago. Thanks for inspiring me to want to know more. It makes sense that the low country in the Carolina’s and parts of Georgia would provide perfect conditions for growing rice. Thanks for sharing your walk.
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I’m glad I triggered a good memory. I find history interesting and especially in different parts of the country although we don’t travel as much as we use to. Hope you are having a good FL winter so far.
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I love a pretty magnolia blossom. I instantly associate them with the South, but the moss is a close second. I know that I’ve seen rice growing but don’t know much about it. Being a midwesterner crops like corn and soybeans are what I understand [sort of]. I love to eat rice, I should know more about it.
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The crop I remember from the midwest is wheat. There was nothing liking driving down a road and seeing a row of machinery harvesting as the sun set. Good memories.
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Lichens are certainly intrepid souls! There is a book you might like called “The Forest of Lilliput”
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4282687-forests-of-lilliput-the-realm-of-mosses-and-lichens
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Thank you for the book reference. I just checked the library here and at home, and I’m sorry to say neither one has it. I’ll keep a lookout though for it. Again, thank you.
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