Notes from the Back Porch contains the ramblings and musings of writer, editor, gardener, and herbalist Eleanor K. Sommer ().

From my back porch in north central Florida, I revel in the views and sounds of a uniquely diverse landscape including sandhill, mixed hardwoods wetland, and a lovely creek that empties into an important area watershed. I share this land with all the critters who live here, with the ghosts of native Americans who lived here previously, and with my husband and our yellow Lab-German shepherd mix, Max, who is a hundred pounds but still thinks he is a puppy (remember Marley?).

Our proximity to Paynes Prairie means we are privileged to have as part of our environment both resident and visitor sandhill cranes. I never tire of their distinctive call and always use their flybys as impetus to get away from the computer and stretch my legs while watching them in formation overhead as they fly to or from their roost in the prairie.