Keebler Park

05/25/2026

Today we pause to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of those who gave everything for our freedom.
May their legacy remind us to live with gratitude, kindness, and unity.

🕯️ In remembrance and reverence — from Kind Voice Communications.

05/16/2026

Before you grab the scraper or the bucket of soapy water — take a second look.

Not everything that looks strange on your tree bark or siding is a pest. Some of the things you're about to remove are native predators that eat the pests you're worried about. Others are harmless growths that belong exactly where they are.

The difference between the ones to remove and the ones to leave comes down to a quick visual check.

🌿 Remove these — they're invasive pests:

- Spotted lanternfly eggs — looks like a smear of gray putty or dried mud on bark. Scrape it off and dispose of it. These are the egg masses that fuel the population explosion each spring

- Spongy moth eggs — looks like a fuzzy, tan, suede-like patch on tree trunks. Scrape into soapy water. Each mass holds hundreds of caterpillars that defoliate hardwoods

- Evergreen bagworms — looks like a small hanging pinecone woven from dead needles. Snip the bag off and drop it in soapy water. Left alone, they can strip an arborvitae bare

- Stink bug eggs — clusters of tiny, pale, barrel-shaped eggs on the underside of leaves. Remove them before they hatch

🌱 Leave these — they're working for you:

- Praying mantis egg case — looks like a hardened, tan, frothy marshmallow wrapped around a twig. Hundreds of native pest-eating mantises will emerge from it in spring. One of the most common things people scrape off by mistake

- Mud dauber nest — smooth mud tubes on siding or brick. These are non-aggressive solitary wasps that hunt spiders. They don't sting defensively and the nests are inactive once sealed

- Wheel bug eggs — tiny brown hexagonal cylinders standing upright in a tight cluster. They hatch into assassin bugs that eat caterpillars and Japanese beetles. One of the most effective native predators you can have in a garden

- Lichen — crusty, scaly green or gray patches flat against bark. Not a disease, not a parasite. It's a harmless symbiosis between fungi and algae. A tree covered in lichen isn't sick — lichen actually grows better on healthy bark with good air circulation

🐦 The one-second rule:

- If it's soft, fuzzy, or putty-like — check it against the remove list
- If it's hard, structured, or architectural — it's more likely beneficial or harmless
- When in doubt, photograph it and search before scraping. The five seconds of checking can save a predator population that takes a full season to replace

One glance before the scraper. That's the whole difference 🌿

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day!

05/08/2026

It's That Time Again: Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Season
It's that time again—when Alabama trails turn lush, lake edges thicken with green, and every walk outdoors feels like a small revival. But tucked inside all that beauty is a familiar summertime menace: poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.

If you've ever brushed against one of these plants, you already know how quickly a peaceful afternoon can turn into a week of itching, swelling, and regret. So let's talk about what these plants are, why they cause such a dramatic reaction, and—most importantly—how to treat the rash when it shows up.

🌿 Meet the Trouble Trio: Ivy, Oak, and Sumac
All three plants contain the same oily resin: urushiol.
It's invisible, sticky, and astonishingly potent. Once it touches the skin, it binds within minutes and can linger on clothing, tools, and even pet fur for months.

A quick refresher:

Poison Ivy: "Leaves of three, let it be." Grows as a vine or shrub.

Poison Oak: Three leaflets with a rounded, oak-like shape.

Poison Sumac: A tall shrub/tree with 7–13 smooth leaflets, usually found in wet, marshy areas.

Different shapes, same itchy outcome.

🔥 Why the Rash Happens
Urushiol triggers an allergic reaction called contact dermatitis.
Symptoms usually appear 12–48 hours after exposure and may include:

Redness and swelling

Intense itching

Blisters that may ooze

Streaky lines where the plant brushed the skin

The rash is not contagious. Only the oil spreads it.

🧼 First Steps After Exposure
If you think you've touched one of these plants, act quickly:

Wash the skin with soap and lukewarm water.

Remove and wash clothing—urushiol clings to fabric.

Clean tools, shoes, and pet fur to prevent re-exposure.

Please don't touch your face until everything is washed.

Early washing can dramatically reduce the severity of the rash.

🩹 Treating the Rash at Home
Most cases heal within 1–3 weeks, but you can make the journey far more comfortable.

Cool compresses to calm the skin

Calamine lotion for itch relief

Hydrocortisone cream for mild inflammation

Oatmeal or baking soda baths to soothe irritated areas

Oral antihistamines at night to help with sleep

Avoid scratching—it increases the risk of infection.
And don't pop blisters; the fluid isn't contagious, but the skin protects the wound.

🧑‍⚕️ When to See a Doctor
Seek medical care if:

The rash is widespread or severe

It affects your face, eyes, or ge****ls
You notice signs of infection
You have trouble breathing or swallowing
Severe cases may require oral steroids.

🌱 A Little Prevention Goes a Long Way
Learn to identify these plants in your region

Wear long sleeves and gloves when working outdoors
Wash your hands, tools, and pets after outdoor activities
Consider bentoquatam barrier cream if you're frequently exposed













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05/04/2026

Enjoy the pleasure of viewing and listening to the birds in your neighborhood. Share your favorite birdwatching experiences. While you're out and about, take photos. As you do, promote habitat conservation and preservation using to post on social media.

05/04/2026

Spring migration brings a surge of new bird species to many eastern backyards—more than at any other time of year.

Right now, birds are heading north in waves.
Some will pause in your yard… just long enough to rest and refuel.

Miss the moment, and they’re gone.

Here’s who to watch for—and how to be ready:

1️⃣ Baltimore oriole
Moves north in stages throughout spring.
Set out orange halves or grape jelly on a shallow dish.
Early arrival is your best window, though some may stay if food is reliable.

2️⃣ Rose-breasted grosbeak
Males arrive first, with females following days later.
Offer safflower or black-oil sunflower seeds in a hopper feeder with a solid perch.

3️⃣ Indigo bunting
Follows a similar migration pattern.
Prefers white millet on the ground or a low tray.
Feeders are used occasionally, but ground feeding is more effective.

4️⃣ Ruby-throated hummingbird
Moves steadily north from the Gulf region through spring.
Fill a clean feeder with a 4:1 water-to-sugar mix.
Skip the dye.

5️⃣ Scarlet tanager
Stays high in the canopy—often 50–80 feet above ground.
Rarely visits feeders.
Listen for it instead.

6️⃣ Wood thrush
Lives in the shaded understory of wooded areas.
Its song carries before the bird ever appears—clear, flute-like, unforgettable.

7️⃣ Common yellowthroat
Found in dense, low vegetation near wetlands and fields.
Listen for its repeated witchety-witchety-witchety call.

8️⃣ Yellow warbler
Uses shrubs and small trees, often near water but also in overgrown yards.

9️⃣ Ovenbird
Walks the forest floor, hidden in leaf litter.
Listen for its rising teacher-teacher-TEACHER call.

At some point in the next few weeks, one of these birds will pass through your yard.

And if you’re not looking—
you won’t even know it happened.

04/27/2026

Ever wonder what bird is singing outside your window or perched on your fence?
Now you can find out instantly — right from your phone.

The Merlin Bird ID App listens to birds around you and identifies them in real time.
Just open the app, tap Sound ID, and watch as names appear while birds sing nearby.
You can also snap a photo or answer a few simple questions to discover who’s visiting your yard.

Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Merlin draws from a massive global database of bird calls and photos. It works offline, so you can explore anywhere — from your backyard to Lake Martin’s trails.

Perfect for beginners and seasoned bird lovers alike, Merlin turns curiosity into connection.
Let’s keep discovering the beauty of Alabama’s birds, one song at a time. 🕊️

04/18/2026

04/15/2026

Look what I heard today.