Pecans and Purple Martins in Fairhope

Friday, 26 April (Part II)
Gulf State Park  — Gulf Shores, Alabama
Temps: Lo 58F / Hi 77F (14C / 25C)

From the Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog (post here), we continued northwest 11.5 miles (18.5 km) to the city of Fairhope.

It had been recommended as a “park and walk” kind of place, so we were looking forward to a nice wander.  Alas, Fairhope turned out to be a bust mostly, but a few things made the drive worthwhile.

On the map above, “B” is the Pitcher Plant Bog and “C” is the city of Fairhope.   

Mui loves pecans — not just because they are a cholesterol-free snack, but also because they are loaded with antioxidants.  Seeing grove after grove of pecan trees on the drive down US-98 on Monday, he had a hankering to visit one of the farms.  That’s how we ended up at the B&B Pecan Company, which promotes “direct from the farm” pecans since 1958 when Clarence and Sandra Bishop, expecting their first child, formed the company as a way for Sandra to “… stay at home, raise a family, and hopefully bring in a little income. …”

Glimpses from the B&B Pecan Company farm.
The bottom right photo is of pecan blossoms, otherwise known as “catkins.”

I was out taking photos, so I missed Clarence’s traditional “Welcome to the Nut House” greeting, but Mui was quick to let me know where I was when I joined him ;-)

Being the only patrons in the gift shop came with an advantage.  In response to a question from Mui about the processing of pecans, Clarence took us back into the office where Sandra was hard at work filling mail- and web-orders for all kinds of pecan goodies.  Pulling out a couple of office chairs, Clarence popped a DVD into the computer and invited us to watch and learn.

It sure would be fun to visit here during harvest time — October thru December — and experience the “pecan shower” … safely standing under a sturdy umbrella, of course.

Since that wasn’t possible this time, we left with a few goodies — a bag each of B&B’s fresh shelled and honey-roasted pecans, and a bottle of virgin pecan oil from Kinloch Plantation in Louisiana.

Mui’s been using the oil to sauté vegetables, and so far thinks it’s great, especially since the oil has a higher smoking point in comparison to virgin olive oil.  Just might have to pick up another bottle when we run out.

Clarence shares with Mui a Ford 1956 pick-up truck …
well, a smaller version of the original, which he still has.

Bottom Right is a Pecan cracker; bottom left is a claw used to clean cracked pecans.

the sign in the top right photo reads: Some of my best friends are nuts!

I mentioned that the city of Fairhope was a bust in our book.  We were expecting a charming place not dissimilar from Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  And perhaps it is, but today the heavy traffic in the heart of downtown completely turned us off; not at all a place to wander and enjoy.  As well, when we stopped at the visitor center, the staffer was unable to come up with any must-see’s … except for the Fairhope Museum of History.  We’re picky about the museums we visit, so that was a no-go.

All was not lost, however, as the Municipal Park, overlooking Mobile Bay, was a saving grace.  First, we found a table for an al fresco, packed-from-home lunch.  And second, we got to do some birding while there.

“Love is in the Air” for this pair of laughing gulls.

The highlight of our birding was seeing the new-to-me Purple Martins.  A nearby sign described Fairhope’s Purple Martin Project:

The largest of the swallow family, Purple Martins pass through this area twice a year on their great migratory adventure, a flight for some that can be as long as 8,500 miles [13,600 km].  Wintering in South America, they begin their journey northward right around the first of the year.  They usually arrive on the Eastern Shore from late January or early February.  In addition to their beautiful song and graceful flight, they also help humans.  Because swallows consume thousands of tons of flying insects per year, they help increase agricultural yields, and greatly reduce the amounts of harmful pesticides needed for insect control.  Purple Martins once relied on natural tree cavities, but now are raised in man made housing.  The City of Fairhope began erecting Purple Martin apartments near the Fairhope Pier in February 2001.  Nesting occurs from late March through early July.  After the young have fledged, the martins leave the colony to start assembling as larger flocks.  The southward migration begins by the end of August, and virtually all Purple Martins leave the Gulf Coast by mid-September.

Purple Martin Project Credits: Mobile Bay Audobon Society, Mr. Garland Sims and other citizen volunteers.

The Purple Martin Riviera
The sign designates one of the apartments as the office for the 226 condos,
and says reservations are required.  I hope Purple Martins can read!

left: A European Starling has rented one of the condos; or maybe he’s just subletting!
Right: female (left) and male Purple Martin taking a bit of air on the terrace.

Apparently Purple Martins are big-time flying insect eaters … too bad they weren’t around
Buccaneer State Park to rid us of the biting gnats that were bugging us (post here).

A closer look at the European Starling trespassing at the Purple Martin condos.

Browsing the brochure I picked up at the visitor center, I found a list of public art in Fairhope.  Noting that some were on the bluff above the municipal park where we were enjoying our lunch and the birds, we decided to drive around and check them out.

The Marietta Johnson Memorial by Fran Neumann, Barbara Casey, and Richard Arnold.
It honors Ms Johnson, a progressive teacher who started the Organic School.

Left: Seahorse by Bruce Larsen and John Rezner.
Right: Dolphin Family by Jim Sardonis.

A little further out, on the grounds of the Thomas Hospital, we found another piece of public art.  After that, we gave up the search as the drive took us back in to the madding traffic, which we wanted no part of.

Alligator by Bruce Larsen; constructed of found metal, wood, and other objects.

The ride back home was more than uneventful … it was downright boring.  It served to dissuade us from our original plan of exploring some of the farther flung places of interest — including the USS Alabama in Mobile.  We’ll do those another time when we camp somewhere more convenient.  That said, there are a few places not that far from Gulf State Park that we still hope to visit … but only after the weekend crowds dissipate next week.