Outdoor

Confessions of a Hunter

Published

4 years ago

December 11, 2020

NTFR

Anyone that hunts or spends time in the woods comes across critters and insects of all types. Nothing is more fun than crawling into a deer stand for the first time of the season, only to combat wasp and spiders descending into all out-combat warfare; and believe me, chemical weapons are a good thing in this war. There is a particular insect that finds its way into your clothes, boots and even your bed; the scorpion. If you have never been stung by one, it’s about like a bee sting, really not that bad, but who really wants to be stung by anything? The biggest difference is a bee or wasp will sting you once, a scorpion can sting a few times.

Living in the country, scorpions are nothing new; they come with the territory. Scorpions can be found under rocks, in a wood pile, under the house or in the house from time to time. One particular year, they were exceptionally bad. They were all over the place outside, in the flower beds and at night seen on the porch and quite a bit in the kitchen. One night getting ready for bed, I folded the sheets back to find a scorpion. Well, that just got into my head. The thought of a scorpion sleeping with me was quite unsettling. As luck would have it, bam! I got stung in the middle of the night in bed.

To read more pick up a copy of the December 2020 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

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Parting Shot

Published

3 weeks ago

October 31, 2024

NTFR

By: Jelly Cocanougher

Delicate microbes buried just beneath the surface. We walk by them, unbeknownst to us. Spores, spawn, and sclerotia, each with distinct characteristics. It is said that these fungi are all connected, speaking to one another as they populate the earth. The interconnectedness of all living things and the decaying world, such beauty lies within these otherworldly alien organisms.

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Varietal Honey

Published

4 weeks ago

October 28, 2024

NTFR

By: Landon Moore

Landon Moore is the Wise County 4-H President and a member of the Wise County 4-H County Council. He is involved in beekeeping, as well as raising rabbits and poultry.

This essay was one that he wrote, and it was named the champion for both the Texas and National chapters of the Foundation For The Preservation of Honey Bees.

Varietal honey is honey that comes from a single source.

This honey has a flavor derived from the source flower and can even have a similar scent. In general, lighter colored honeys have a more subtle taste and dark honeys are more intense. Varietal honey has been compared to wine, in that honeys produced in different years can be distinguished, even if they come from the same flower and location.

This phenomenon is called terroir and is responsible for the individual taste of each honey harvest.

To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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The Garden Guy: America’s Sweetheart

Published

4 weeks ago

October 27, 2024

NTFR

By: Norman Winter | Horticulturist, Author, Speaker

Early in the summer, I was sent a press release that caused one of those holy wow moments. The headline said it all, “Proven Winners ColorChoice Expands Catalog with the Addition of Hollywood Hibiscus.”

I had already become familiar with the Hollywood Hibiscus series and was thrilled that the Proven Winners was adding this to their lineup.

This flower is nothing short of beautiful and exhibits prolific flower production. The flowers show three distinct colors, deep red in the very center, then the majority which is a rich rose pink with lighter pink to white along the margins.

To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.