Palmetto Berries

   The sawtooth palmettoes back in the swampy part of the Bayou are some of the few left around here.  Progress and all of that has the huge clumps being plowed out of the ground and replaced with stupid things like palm trees.  To my way of thinking palm trees are not really something that cries "Mississippi Coast" but people seem to think differently than me.  Personally, the live oaks with Spanish moss dangling from the branches and palmettoes sitting stately below perfectly represent the Coast.  Just my thinking but still...it is sad to see things be decimated because people "know" better than Mother Nature.  Whatever.

  Back to the palmettoes...the plants are thriving on our piece of property!  Just this morning, I was astounded by the number of palmetto berries were tucked neatly beneath the spikey fronds.  Every clump had thousands of the hard, green berries.  Of those, I will most likely never see a ripe one.  The critters will pluck the berries as soon as they begin to ripen.  This is fine by me as I have no plans on harvesting the things anyway and my critter friends need to fill their bellies.

  It was brought to my attention that in Florida it is illegal to harvest the berries.  There are regulations about who can and who cannot pick the things as the sawtooth palmetto is an endangered plant and Florida...being all Florida-like and everything is smart.  They wish to preserve a bit of their natural flora.  Smart folks there.  Too bad that won't happen here.  Nope...clearcutting is the way to go.  Just not on my property while I am still here.  The palmettoes and oak trees shall rule...and the critters shall feast...and I shall roam the swamps...and life will go on.