Our home
overlooks the Back Bay of Biloxi, which is just across the street. It
sits perched on a twenty-five foot hill next to thick woods on which
magnolias, live oaks, pine, hickory nut, black gum, sweet gum, baytree,
holly and pawpaw trees grace the land.
The Back Bay is a large bay that extends from the mouths of the Tchoutacabouffa and Biloxi Rivers and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It is connected to the main part of Biloxi via bridges. It is shallow (except for a shipping channel for boats and tugs) with many "islands" of sea grass which is home to marsh birds, fish, crabs, shrimp, and nutria. I never tire of driving across the bridge and looking at the water, the wildlife and the sunsets.
At our homesite, muscadine vines climb to the tops of limbs, dropping their fruit in the early fall. Pawpaw trees bear fruit that is quickly eaten by the raccoons. The persimmon trees that I planted from seeds are now bearing a few persimmons, and Spanish Moss hangs from the Oak branches. It is a very serene and peaceful area -- my special place!
In the Springtime, azaleas burst forth in their lovely splendor, giving the landscape vivid color. Dogwood looks like lace in the sky; wisteria and yellow jasmine add a delicious fragrance to the air. You can see yellow jasmine growing wild, climbing to the tops of branches in the woods and along the roadside.
In the back yard, squirrels chase one another, jumping through the trees like trapeze artists. They also invade my bird feeders. Turtles come up to the patio to feed, and have been known to try to come on in the back door. Birds frequent our feeders and the three bird baths.
Wild rabbits have been seen munching on the grass in late afternoon. We once spotted a fox crossing the street. Owls can be heard hooting from the trees on occasion. The chorus of frogs at night is a symphony. Birds The
most common and frequent feeders are cardinals, ladder-back and redheaded
woodpeckers, blue jays, tufted titmice, Rufus Towhees, purple finches
and chickadees. Thrashers, wrens, doves, mocking birds, and an occasional
killdeer and quail are seen, too. I once saw a blue bunting and an oriole.
In the spring, the yellow finches empty the thistle seed feeders several
times a week. The endangered Pilliated Woodpecker sometimes calls from
atop the trees. Huge herons are seen in the little creek that runs through
our property into the Bay, or flying to and from. In the spring, migrating
birds add to our enjoyment.
It's a lovely place to live!
Page originated on August 31, 1998.
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