Blessings In The South

My Husband and I have recently spent several afternoons looking over the orchard. We do this frequently to check for disease, bugs, and deer damage. This years crop will be very small. The past couple years of bad weather have taken its toll on nut growth. The experts have recently confirmed what we've known all along. Hurricane damage, lack of sun light, and severe drought have caused the trees to go in a state of shock. The pecan industry will suffer for several years after the loss of many orchards in Louisiana and other parts of the South. I grew up in Southwest Alabama and in 1979 hurricane Fredrick performed a face-lift on that area. My neighbor had an old orchard and in one night the whole thing was destroyed. As a young girl, the site of all those huge up-rooted trees left a permanent mark in my mind. We have been blessed here. Our trees are young and if the year continues with good sun light and prayerfully more rain, I believe we will have a good crop next year. Pecan trees do not grow over night. It is more of an investment for your children. My heart goes out to the pecan farmers who have lost their trees due to hurricane Katrina. Some have decided to re-plant but most are going out of business. How sad to think of all that hard work put into those orchards and in one day all is lost. Life is a test, God is the test giver. We will all face tragedy in our life if we live long enough. I pray I will be a good test taker.



The top picture is of two growing pecans. The bottom I took 2 weeks ago when we got over an inch of rain.