If you follow this blog much, you know the swamp is my go-to place to get a dose of nature, clear my head, quiet my monkey-mind and just breathe and be. I needed some swamp medicine on Saturday, so I headed across the river to Jean Lafitte National Park and took a little walk. It’s funny how after years of living here, I love the slightly acrid and sulfury swamp smell almost as much as the leaf litter in the eastern woodlands.
Saturday’s walk was a little challenging because of these guys:
One of dozens and dozens I had to swat away.
Camel flies. They bite. It’s not fun. But they don’t fly fast so you end up squishing them when you swat them while they’re in the middle of biting you or getting ready to bite you. Or when they’re just flying around your head making you feel just a little crazy. I hit myself in the head a lot on Saturday morning.
Now don’t you want to come to the swamp with me next time?
Despite the challenge of the camel flies, who were more insistent on the way out – on the way back they seemed to be in far fewer numbers – I had a lovely walk.
Green is the color of the swamp in summer. Katydids do well blending into all that green.
In the midst of the green, there’s a burst of other bright color here and there – like this red dragonfly. There were green ones too, and blue ones and yellow ones.
Or white flowers like this bulltongue. The petals make me think of delicately wrinkled tissue paper.
Or surprises like this painted bunting. This isn’t a great photo, but he was very far away. I’d never seen a painted bunting before! Thanks to the birders at the end of the boardwalk who pointed him out!
I’m soothed by the green plant-choked waters of the bayou in summer.
The gators drifted slowly and lazily in the heat.
A couple of hours on the swamp trails cleared my head and made my world feel right again.
So, like Jimmy Fallon, I’ll say, “Thank you, Swamp!”
for us forest girls, going out into the swamp by yourself sounds like such a daredevilish thing!!
Gators….do they just move too slow right now in the heat to be a concern?
Here in northern cali we don’t have anything as romantic as the camel flies, just regular mosquitos, which always surround my house starting in spring. And when I visit the shore in New Jersey, we deal with green headed flies, which sting like nobody’s business. Why is it that these little buggers must derail our efforts to enjoy nature, wherever we go?
Glad you got out to the swamp and got some of your detox, decompress done.
Hi Pia – it’s kind of like a forest – it’s not as scary as you may think – there’s pavement and boardwalk, so no mud slogging or anything. As for gators, for whatever reason, they don’t seem to disturb the humans. Never had one do anything scary.
Yes – I’m no fan of the biting insects. Jealous of your proximity to water in California. I would be there every day if I lived near a beach – bugs and all!
It’s all so different from anything I know. Quite beautiful. Thanks for the photos!
Glad you enjoyed! Not quite as balsam-y fresh as Maine!
I love the swamp shots… such variety and forms of life.
Thank you, Elizabeth!
Beautiful painted bunting. The katydid blending in with the greenery.
You captured the adventure to share with us northeners who have no alligators or camel flies. How about a hat like a BeeKeeper?
Thank you! I suppose I could get a bug hat – I don’t have one. Hopefully next time I go there won’t be any camel flies!
Sweet! Loved the painted bunting! I like J. Lafitte after sundown, after discovering it’s open 24/7 to walkers.
Thanks! I love the swamp after sunset too. One year I went for the full moon rise every month.
All of photos are very nice.Katydids really become green.The nature things are incredible!
Thank you!
Very nice, I really like the dragon fly shot!
Thanks, Theresa!
I really enjoy your blog, I do! Especially so that I can safely enjoy nature through your pictures without getting bitten by mosquitos or flies! Eeeks. I didn’t even know flys can bite. I think I need to rub lots of garlic or something green but potent if I do venture out w/ you. Lol.
So glad you enjoyed! Sometimes it’s not so buggy – I think Saturday was the worst I’ve experienced, and even that wasn’t tragic, just pretty annoying.
Beautiful photos. I would love to be able to visit a swamp someday.
We have deer flies here. Your camel flies look and sound like they are related to our deer flies.
Thank you! If you come to New Orleans, I’ll take you to the swamp! As for the flies, maybe they’re even the same? Is it just a common name difference? Or are deer flies darker in color?
I stumbled on your blog looking at the postaday2011 tag. When I see cocomino, Queen of Zoom, and eof737 leaving comments I am pretty sure I’m going to have to subscribe.
That’s so sweet! Hope I don’t disappoint! Love your cooking and family blog.
I thought that picture of a fly was a bee – yikes! No fun…
Yeah – at least they don’t carry a scary disease or sting. Biting never seems quite as bad as stinging, for sure!