Leave it up to a small toad

 This is why it's called the Pine Barrens. Today was hot and buggy, but still worth the hike on the Batona trail, although these trees don't offer much shade. Outside of the buzzing of the mosquitoes not a sound, no wind, no birds, until a small toad hopped in front of me and darn near scared me to death.

However, there were more deer this afternoon than I've seen before, but, of course, never have the camera ready in time. Today was wonderful prayer opportunity and I took advantage of it.

An entire area of fern, which I believe, is foreign to the area, and is beginning to wipe out the blueberry bushes in many areas of the forest