Summer green pastures

During the dog days of summer, when the heat is almost unbearable, I find myself drawn to the lush pastures of North Florida. August is the perfect time of year to seek the shade of a large oak tree in the middle of a field and watch the world go by. Trust me, there is a lot of beauty to be found in a steamy green, green grassy pasture this time of year.

The word pasture is from the Latin “pasture or pascere,” meaning to feed or land used for grazing. Most of us think that pastures are for large animals such as cattle and horses to graze on. However, there are many others grazing on the goodness of an open field. Birds of prey, insects, wildflowers, turkey, quail, deer, tortoises, and many others can be found enjoying the gifts of a mature pasture in the heat of summer.

In the air, the scent of wildflowers calls on me to walk through the field. My absolute favorite wildflower scent is that of vanilla leaf (Carphephorus odoratissima). Some people call this plant deer tongue as it alludes to the shape of a deer’s tongue. No matter what name you call the plant, it is certainly the most fragrant flower in the field this time of year.

Vanilla leaf is endemic to the southeastern United States and has many historical uses. In 1965, a local botanist discovered residents of the Florida Panhandle placed the vanilla leaves under their pillow to relieve asthma. Carphephorus odoratissima leaves contain coumarin and have been used as a flavoring agent in imitation vanilla extract. It is also found in perfumes and folklore. Old timers tell me that the vanilla plant will draw a lover into your life if you carry it around in your pocket. Bees and butterflies feast on these fragrant flowers throughout summer and fall.

Summer green pastures attract dragonflies by the thousands. The green darner dragonflies migrate 500 to 600 miles. Completing this journey is no small feat. The green darner can fly as far as 80 miles in a single day when migrating. Like monarch butterflies, these dragonflies have a multigenerational migration pattern.

The first generation of dragonflies hatch in the Southeastern U.S. and Mexico from February to May before migrating north. Once they arrive in the Midwest U.S., they lay eggs and die. The second generation continues to migrate from July to October and lays its eggs to hatch. In November the final generation will migrate south for the winter and lay their eggs, which will hatch in the spring. Spring dragonflies will migrate north, starting the annual cycle once again.

Many birds are found in the fields of North Florida during the heat of summer. Cattle egrets are present in large numbers doing exactly as their name implies, they are following the cattle. They follow horses too.

Horseflies as big as my thumb are found in large numbers this time of year and certainly pester horses and cows, especially when there is no breeze. Cattle egrets eagerly stand guard beside horses and cows, waiting patiently for a horsefly to land. Then, in a flash of a second, when the horsefly lands, the egret consumes the horsefly. The horses and cows allow egrets to land on their backs and move under their bellies without any fuss. This symbiotic relationship is beautiful to watch, unless of course, you are the horsefly.

Sometimes, a covey of quail with her chicks can be observed feeding in the fields. Momma turkeys and her chicks graze in the fields as well. Turkey heads just above the tops of the green grasses can be observed strutting along. Hawks are always present, waiting for a chick to stray far enough away from cover to become part of the web of life.

The peacefulness of a rural Nassau County pasture provides me with a retreat from the hustle and bustle of summer tourist season on Amelia Island. Mature summer pastures feed horses, cattle, birds, insects, and more. The color and fragrance of wildflowers attract the bees and butterflies. The sounds of summer include the cry of a hawk, the song of the cicadas and the wind in the trees. Clouds flying by overhead and the smell of a summer shower are all part of the beauty of summer in rural Nassau County.

I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time under the shade of giant oak tree overlooking open fields and pastures. And I never take this opportunity for granted, as I know future growth in west Nassau County is underway.

Rural pastures and open fields are quickly being devoured by humans for future development. It is my hope that we can save some of these green, green grasslands for future generations of grazing animals, birds, insects, and for people as well. Green, green pastures feed our souls and this is good medicine for all.