Trees Are Good - The difference in temperature between our Pasture and Yard that we fondly call the Tunnel of Trees beginning July 29, 2014

Noticing a difference in temperature between the Pasture and the Tunnel of Trees we put a thermometer in both places to record exactly how different the temperatures are in each... we'll just let the pictures tell the story.

Where we live in Central Florida is a Pine Sandhill we call it The Tunnel of Trees. It's loaded with Laurel Oaks, Longleaf (long needle) Pines and a few Live Oak and Hickory Trees. We also have the pasture where a few Laurel Oaks, Scrub Live Oaks and Turkey Oaks live. 

An intro video to the Tunnel of Trees and The Pasture.

Scroll down to see the thermometers. 

The Tunnel of Trees

The Pasture

Trees are good! 

He who plants a Tree plants a hope. - Lucy Larcom

#ArborDayFoundation  #EarthDay

AQHA Cajun Kid Flower 1976-2012

ApHC Miss Thinkin 1983-2014

These 2 horses loved on us and lived with us from 1995 until the day they passed.

They absolutely loved every minute of Life!

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Happy Arbor Day to Florida - 4 days late - Today is January 20, 2026 ~ Trees and Sunshine Are Great Things!

On Florida's Arbor Day (January 16, 2026) it was too cold and windy to go outside so on 

Tuesday January 20th we snapped these shots at 10:30 am.

Our Tunnel of Trees is a sunny, pleasant 56 degrees YAY! 

The Pasture where the sun hasn't quite hit yet is only 52 degrees. What a difference the sunshine makes!

 

January 10, 2026 ~ The Cattle Crossing in Lake George, Astor, FL - many Trees were put to great use for this

The Cattle Crossing (as us locals call it) marks the channel where the St Johns River flows in Lake George just North of Astor, FL. This allows for deep, safe passage for the Barge and other boats so they don't hit the sand bar on either side. 

The building you see to the West of the Cattle Crossing is what remains of the old Post Office. Mail used to be delivered to this area by boat and the Post Office building sat on that platform. 

The Barge came down from Jacksonville to Sanford's Power Plant bringing fuel oil before they piped natural gas to Sanford. The last time we saw the Barge come through was in the early 2000's. 

They used a lot of large trees to build these buildings and we've noticed it's dilapidation so we decided to start chronicling the Cattle Crossing. These pics were taken on January 10, 2026. 

 

The Old Ice House / Fish Camp / Dance Hall in Astor, FL is near and dear to our hearts! Here's an update ~ January 10, 2026

 August 1, 2025 we posted this:

"The Old Ice House/Fish Camp/Dance Hall in Astor, FL is near and dear to our hearts! We've been watching this building for 30 years and it has been through many changes. 

In 2023 we learned it was built in 1926 (see posts from May and December 2023).

On Friday July 25th we saw that there has been huge progress in its restoration! By August 1st, it appears the restoration is complete. We're so Stoked to see someone loves it as much as we do! "

Below are some follow-up pics taken January 10, 2026 – She’s looking pretty good!

It's a Beautiful time of year for Trees

At 4:45 pm on December 17, 2025 the Pasture thermometer was almost 

exactly the same as the Tunnel of Trees thermometer. 

It's hard to beat mid 70s in December!

 Trees are good and Life Is Good too!

October 22, 2025 ~ Trees Are Good!

October has been a good month to Florida. 

On Wednesday October 22, 2025 at 6:30 pm the Pasture was a beautiful 80 degrees.

  

Our tree covered yard was at 77 degrees. There is a nice breeze blowing and all is well in our world!

The Old Astor Ice House is getting a Face Lift! AND It's 102° on July 29, 2025!!

It's 102° in the Tunnel of Trees at 3:45 pm!! It's way too hot to go check the thermometer in the Pasture. We've had about 5 days of this "Heat Dome" over us with no rain. Hoping it leaves soon! 

On another note, the Old Ice House is getting a make over! 

The Old Ice House/Fish Camp/Dance Hall in Astor, FL is near and dear to our hearts! 

We've been watching this building for 30 years and it has been through many changes. 

In 2023 we learned it was built in 1926 (see posts from May and December 2023).

On Friday July 25th we saw that there has been huge progress in its restoration! By August 1st, it appears the restoration is complete.

We're so Stoked to see someone loves it as much as we do! 

September 5, 2023

September 5, 2023

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

 July 25, 2025

August 1, 2025

Tuesday July 8, 2025 at 6:00pm ~ Our Trees and the shade they provide are a great thing!

Sometimes just a few degrees and some shade work wonders. It's 91 degrees in the tunnel of trees and we have them to thank for the shade. It's 94 degrees in the pasture but the sun is bright and baking!

 

 

The Biggest Trees We've Ever Seen! Sequoia National Park ~ May 24 and 25, 2025

If you ever get the chance to visit these magnificent trees in Sequoia National Park do it! 

They are so much more amazing in person!

My fear was they were going to burn down before we would get to see them. Although they have burned several times, they are Survivors. 

Hopefully they will be here for many future generations, 

they are truly priceless!  

 

Trees are a good thing! Happy Mother's Day!

We're finally getting some rain after a very dry April and the 2 Longleaf Pines I thought we were going to loose are putting out new shoots! It's 10:00 am and The Tunnel of Trees is at 79 degrees. It's going through a bit of a transformation since they cleared the 10 acres... as the world turns :-) Speaking of trees hahaha we leave tomorrow to go see the Sequoias. I'm soooo stoked!

The Pasture thermometer is at 77 degrees... 2 degrees cooler than the Tunnel of Trees. With the transformation of the Tunnel of Trees, it'll be interesting to see what goes on in the next several years. Stay Tuned!

This is in honor of Earth Day 2025 ~ Trees Are Good!

Elizabeth Evans transformed Mount Dora's city dump into a park after she rallied the troops to help her clean it all up. Never lose hope! Where there is a will, there is a way!

It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you. It's what you leave behind you when you go... ~Randy Travis

#EarthDay#ElizabethEvansLegacy#DonnellyPark #SunsetPark#CleanItUpForFutureGenerations#LeaveWideOpenSpaces#PlantATreeTodayForTomorrow