Give it an inch.....

  Back a few years ago, I noticed that the nutrias were munching away on the roots of our marsh.  The shoreline was receding at a rapid pace due to these critters and this was not making me overly happy.  I tried to be nice and allow the overgrown rats to live in peace but it seems that the word got out so now I am overrun with the critters.  It does indeed make me happy to know that our alligator population is thriving as well, though, since those are about the only predators that an adult nutria has. 

  As the marsh grass disappears, other weaker rooted plants take over the area.  I first saw the saltmarsh fleabane several years ago as a single plant.  Now within a couple of years, the plant has multiplied by a hundredfold.  The Bayou is changing from one of healthy marsh to mudflats with an assorted soft-rooted plants.  This is not good as none of these will do much to stop erosion.  Coupled with the root-gnawing nutrias, the saltmarsh fleabane is out to do damage to the ecosystem here. Give either an inch and it will wind up taking over the entire Bayou! There is not much that I can do to stop this progressive curse on the marsh.  

  Saltmarsh Fleabane is better known as Pluchea Odorata.  It is touted to be a bug repellent, hence, the name fleabane.  I suppose that I could experiment with using the plant as a natural insect deterrent.   If it works, maybe I should harvest it and market the stuff!  I also read where it is sometimes used as an herbal tisane.  Do I dare snip a few leaves and give it a try?  Tisanes would be a good market as well!  At the rate it is taking over the marsh, I could have a never-ending moneymaker! Hmmm? Ponder....ponder....