{"id":829,"date":"2016-02-27T20:50:34","date_gmt":"2016-02-27T20:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/?p=829"},"modified":"2016-03-06T02:03:16","modified_gmt":"2016-03-06T02:03:16","slug":"pygmies-oysters-and-estuaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/2016\/02\/27\/pygmies-oysters-and-estuaries\/","title":{"rendered":"Pygmies, oysters and estuaries"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On Leon&#8217;s recommendation we headed out for the pygmy cypress in the state forest. \u00a0Its not too far off the highway and definitely bizarre. \u00a0We saw lots and lots of tall pine trees then all of a sudden there is this giant patch of cypress trees growing in this swamp. \u00a0Cypress normally get really tall I guess but these were only 10 feet tall or so despite being 300 some years old. \u00a0They are not even sure why they don&#8217;t grow taller here. \u00a0If you plant one of their seeds in other locations it will grow tall like usual. \u00a0There are a couple other stands of pygmy cypress but these have bedrock very shallow in the soil&#8230;but here the soil is quite deep. \u00a0They built a board walk so you could get out over the swamp and even over the trees. \u00a0We really wanted to see some wildlife but we struck out&#8230;saw a bird and some minnows. \u00a0Still, it was a cool place.<br \/>\n<a data-flickr-embed=\"true\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/25249089951\/in\/album-72157665214241615\/\" title=\"In the trees\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.staticflickr.com\/1490\/25249089951_d09e8cfeca_n.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" alt=\"In the trees\"><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The lady at the museum recommended Lynn&#8217;s Quality Oysters so we stopped in there for lunch. \u00a0It does not look fancy and the guys working there might be the same guys who do the oystering. \u00a0We had lots of questions and the guy helping us used as few words as possible. \u00a0We ordered some raw oysters, some steamed with bacon, cheddar and jalapeno and some Rockefeller style (steamed with spinach and parmesean). \u00a0We also got a bowl of seafood gumbo and some shrimp dip. \u00a0Caden was the first to try the raw one&#8230;he was very brave and seemed to not mind it at all. \u00a0Dacen and Brielle were next and could not get them down their gullet&#8230;.but I was proud of them for giving it a shot. \u00a0I think we all preferred the steamed ones and perhaps the Rockefeller style ones were our collective favorite. \u00a0The gumbo and the dip were both good.<br \/>\n<a data-flickr-embed=\"true\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/25249063431\/in\/album-72157665214241615\/\" title=\"Raw oysters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.staticflickr.com\/1713\/25249063431_fd40df098a_n.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" alt=\"Raw oysters\"><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The town of East Point has a nature center that is free! \u00a0A really well done facility that did a great job of describing an estuary and the delicate balance between the land, fresh water and the bay. \u00a0They had 3 big aquariums: fresh water, brackish water and salt water each with a nice variety of local creatures. \u00a0One room was full of bones and shells and skulls of different local animals. \u00a0Outside there was a boardwalk out to the bay and another through the fresh water marshes.<br \/>\n<a data-flickr-embed=\"true\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/25223834892\/in\/album-72157665214241615\/\" title=\"Shells and bones\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.staticflickr.com\/1595\/25223834892_77e7007505_n.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" alt=\"Shells and bones\"><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>We swung by to see Big Charles, a big chunk of super old cypress that was recently hauled up from the bottom of a river&#8230;I still don&#8217;t quite get the significance, but it had a plaque so it must be important. \u00a0Then we went over the bridge to Apalachicola. \u00a0Quaint, but very touristy, town. \u00a0Lots of places to shop. \u00a0We went in one that had both new and old stuff, mostly with a nautical theme. \u00a0It was fun checking out all the treasures there. \u00a0We ended up at the local park where there is this giant adirondak chair. \u00a0I was going to set up the tripod but the pair of kids, probably 12 years old, pull up in a golf cart and the girl asks if we like her to take our picture. \u00a0See? \u00a0The people here are the<a href=\"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/2016\/02\/26\/nicest-people-ever\/\"> nicest ever<\/a>!<br \/>\n<a data-flickr-embed=\"true\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/25046401880\/in\/album-72157665214241615\/\" title=\"Wee wittle Wachs\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.staticflickr.com\/1459\/25046401880_755a4e466c_n.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" alt=\"Wee wittle Wachs\"><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>After coming home and having brats for dinner we all showered up then drove over to see the bottle house at night. \u00a0I think we were all expecting a little something more, but it was still neat. \u00a0If you can only see it once, go during the day, especially if its sunny!<\/p>\n<div id=\"flickr_72157665214241615_9647\"><div class=\"slickr-flickr-slideshow landscape medium \"><div class=\"active\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1698\/25315988926_fab36acd3a.jpg\" title=\"At the pygmy cypress\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>At the pygmy cypress<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1490\/25249089951_d09e8cfeca.jpg\" title=\"In the trees\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>In the trees<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1686\/25223913802_528890a821.jpg\" title=\"Mossy cypress\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Mossy cypress<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1463\/25223907312_70fc9dd6da.jpg\" title=\"Overlooking pygmy cypress\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Overlooking pygmy cypress<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1665\/25342161145_40c27429ba.jpg\" title=\"Waiting for lunch\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Waiting for lunch<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1713\/25249063431_fd40df098a.jpg\" title=\"Raw oysters\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Raw oysters<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1708\/24715384403_80920f8f3e.jpg\" title=\"Caden ate a raw oyster\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Caden ate a raw oyster<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1614\/24715381623_6baab2b202.jpg\" title=\"Steph ate a raw oyster\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Steph ate a raw oyster<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1577\/25163164959_3b57d1d0bf.jpg\" title=\"Steph and Caden\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Steph and Caden<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1508\/24715377483_45f240d062.jpg\" title=\"Dacen tried a raw oyster\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Dacen tried a raw oyster<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1569\/25249046861_8bca136404.jpg\" title=\"Brielle tried a raw oyster\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Brielle tried a raw oyster<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1469\/24715369093_3104375a88.jpg\" title=\"Steamed oysters\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Steamed oysters<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1595\/25235088440_1c684f91cd.jpg\" title=\"Yummy!\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Yummy!<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1584\/25342128195_1cf099718d.jpg\" title=\"Lunch time\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Lunch time<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1562\/25342124755_91d470bfde.jpg\" title=\"Hurricane evacuation plan\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Hurricane evacuation plan<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1473\/25046518080_0d50a8b752.jpg\" title=\"Run aground\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Run aground<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1685\/25139802649_f3f1c6b786.jpg\" title=\"Pelicans photobombed by seagull\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Pelicans photobombed by seagull<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1601\/24974456189_ba53c29476.jpg\" title=\"Oyster dock\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Oyster dock<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1715\/24715344963_c2c79fa267.jpg\" title=\"Aquarium\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Aquarium<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1587\/24876810224_0c86f8f938.jpg\" title=\"IMG_20160227_133118433\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>IMG_20160227_133118433<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1480\/25507347405_e9d91dbef1.jpg\" title=\"IMG_20160227_133044557\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>IMG_20160227_133044557<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1533\/25315907486_c8a8e69d55.jpg\" title=\"Check this out\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Check this out<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1610\/25481258296_035f6c72f5.jpg\" title=\"IMG_20160227_133018209\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>IMG_20160227_133018209<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1655\/25046498460_20204ffd14.jpg\" title=\"Examining specimines\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Examining specimines<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1595\/25223834892_77e7007505.jpg\" title=\"Shells and bones\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Shells and bones<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1612\/25481229786_50e53a8ef1.jpg\" title=\"IMG_20160227_132209397\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>IMG_20160227_132209397<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1709\/25315888086_87c780d6e0.jpg\" title=\"Relaxin&#039;\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Relaxin'<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1466\/25046475680_0a05650ba8.jpg\" title=\"Fresh water marsh trail\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Fresh water marsh trail<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1468\/24974399949_9fb6e92311.jpg\" title=\"Boardwalk to bay\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Boardwalk to bay<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1636\/25046449370_8052a54f35.jpg\" title=\"Tradin&#039;in the RV for this baby\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Tradin'in the RV for this baby<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1633\/24974377349_541d3a6f0e.jpg\" title=\"Weathered\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Weathered<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1550\/24974364049_ba6886fa54.jpg\" title=\"We&#039;re spelling Wach\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>We're spelling Wach<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1457\/24715265223_4663cf3190.jpg\" title=\"Cool ship\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Cool ship<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1640\/25342023485_25a4583801.jpg\" title=\"Pirate girl\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Pirate girl<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1564\/25046416270_81fa91d58f.jpg\" title=\"This oar that?\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>This oar that?<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1599\/24711384304_40d0aac936.jpg\" title=\"Crazy driver\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Crazy driver<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1459\/25046401880_755a4e466c.jpg\" title=\"Wee wittle Wachs\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Wee wittle Wachs<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1530\/24715239723_420b6a1248.jpg\" title=\"Tree hugger\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Tree hugger<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1594\/25341997865_bbec2b4cde.jpg\" title=\"Monkey\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Monkey<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1526\/25223732572_7a65a68e20.jpg\" title=\"Stumpy beach\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Stumpy beach<\/p><\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\">jQuery(\"#flickr_72157665214241615_9647\").data(\"options\",{\"delay\":3000,\"autoplay\":true,\"transition\":500,\"link\":\"next\",\"target\":\"_self\",\"width\":\"\",\"height\":\"\"});<\/script><div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Leon&#8217;s recommendation we headed out for the pygmy cypress in the state forest. \u00a0Its not too far off the highway and definitely bizarre. \u00a0We saw lots and lots of tall pine trees then all of a sudden there is this giant patch of cypress trees growing in this swamp. \u00a0Cypress normally get really tall [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[28,13],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=829"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":902,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829\/revisions\/902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}