Storm Update

Another busy day in the streets of Wilmington as chainsaws whir and people try to get back to business. There is so much volunteer work going on. I am glad I got home in time to participate. Many places offer food. One has been occupying a vacant shopping center parking lot and serves only barbecue. It has trucks with shower stalls and trucks for sleeping. Several church based groups are set up and offer food and necessities. The place where I "helped" yesterday was World Central Kitchen and is run/organized by chefs. It appeared chaotic, but in fact it wasn't. It was well organized, just very busy. They prepare meals for 12,000 people! The food is taken to various places within probably a radius of up to 100 miles of Wilmington. They plan to stay through the week.

I stopped by Greenfield Lake today to see what Florence had done to it. There were quite a few trees down and men with orange vests cutting them up and moving them out. I saw  a lot of white birds flying and nesting in the trees on the other side of the lake. One close to the walking path was staying put. At that spot, there were hundreds of smelly, dead fish, and not small ones either. A woman who was sitting nearby said it was due to the lack of oxygen, and that a group she was in had brought an aerator to put in the lake there. It's funny how the great trees go down but delicate looking plants remain. The pix are at Greenfield Lake. 1) high lake and trucks on the road 2) John standing on an uprooted tree 3) flowers

Then on to the Cape Fear River, broader than usual and faster moving. I've heard the water is receding faster than they thought. Good news. Mother Nature is awesome.

At my house, there must several hundred downed pine cones, mostly green and new. I definitely rather get them now than when they become seedlings.

Next post: The birds at the lake.