A New Snack!

  On my hikes about the hillside and down to the creek bed, I can usually find a ready snack on the trail.  Blackberries, huckleberries, wild blueberries, wild persimmons all grow along the marsh edge and in the woods.  I have no qualms about grabbing a handful of these as a handy snack but I admit to being leery of just trying any fruit I see.  That old saying of better safe than sorry rings true.  Today, however, I was happy to find a new snack albeit a sour one to add to my hiking pleasure.  Sparkle berries!  I had never heard of such until a friend (who I have never met!) mentioned finding them on a hike.  Well, if there is a berry that grows here and is edible, I needed to find it, right?  So...I searched.  In fact, I have been searching for weeks and was in hopes that I would find some before they all dried up and fell from the bush or were all eaten by critters.

  This afternoon, my quest was accomplished!  I found my sparkle berries!  Sure, they looked a bit dry and there were only a few left on the bush but, hey, they were there!  But...as I said earlier, I am leery of trying things without a positive identification.  So, I sent a photograph to my friend and the berries were confirmed to be sparkle berries.  The confirmation came with a lot of pointers on how to identify the berries so I feel quite confident in tasting them.  Tomorrow, the berries will be put to a taste test despite warnings from my friend.  "They are tart!"  My whole thought is that if the berries are there next year, a batch of sparkle berry jelly should be attempted! 

  Still, regardless of the fact that the sparkle berries may not be as tasty as the huckleberries, I think it is a wise move to learn what is edible and what is not.  Ha!  If I ever get lost on a hike around the Bayou, I will survive!  Snacks abound!  Free food for the taking!


 

Now, we're talking!

  The old dog had enough energy to walk with me to the back part of the property.  His wobbly legs made this a slow-paced walk but it gave me plenty of time to photograph things along the way.  Near the small pump shed, there is a scraggly (for most of the year) shrub that always brightens my day during this time of year.  The American Beautyberry is one of my favorites!  During the winter months, the stalks sit bare and dry but come spring, it burst forth with bright green leaves.  In the beginning of summer, those stalks start showing some nondescript clusters of tiny flowers.  Being as they are the palest of pinks and well hidden beneath the large leaves, the blooms often go unnoticed.  Later, those tiny blooms drop and the brightest violet berries take their place.  It is those berries that claim all the glory for the shrub!  Also, it is those berries that bring my smiles.

  Although the calendar says that fall has not arrived as of yet, I do believe it is here!  The American Beautyberry says it is so it must be true.  The shrub would not lie!  By all accounts, the shrub's berries ripen in the fall so fall it is.  I am ready!  These berries are an important food source for many of the birds on the Bayou.  Back when I was just a tyke running barefoot on the farm, Pop told me the bush was a "Turkey Berry" bush so the name stuck.  It makes sense.  Turkeys love the berries and Pop would often scout out the heaviest laden shrub.  Then, just about Thanksgiving, he would quietly sit near the bush and wait.  If a turkey happened to come dine upon the berries, we had a grand Thanksgiving dinner!  

  Now, however, the shrubs are left as landscape beauties.  Turkeys can freely dine upon them along with the many other birds.  My happiness lies purely in the fact that summer is coming to an end and fall is on its way....according to the American Beautyberry shrub.  Now, we're talking!  Fall...yes, please!

Round Two...The Little Red Hen Syndrome

  Back a couple of months ago, I had dozens of small tomato plants in the greenhouse.  These were just the right size to plant out in the garden so I offered several folks a few plants for their home gardens.  I had no takers except for Darling Daughter.  She took 16 plants home to put in planter boxes.  To that, she added a dozen pepper plants and is waiting on a few eggplants.  She is the only one who took the effort of planting a small garden.  Other folks all made the comment that they "did not have the time" or it is a "lot of work for a few tomatoes/peppers/eggplants, that I can get at the store."   That said, I planted...and planted.  My garden plot grew in size just as the plants did.  Soon, the entire east side of the yard became a vegetable garden. Not only did I plant in rows in the ground but I also utilized planter boxes, flower pots, old shrimp baskets and stuck vegetable plants in the flower gardens. The plants did well and soon set all sorts of blooms.  Now, fast forward two months and I am harvesting healthy meals from the back yard.  Darling Daughter is doing the same.  

  Now that I have fresh vegetables and fruits for our meals, folks are coming out of the woodwork to say "Oh, I will take a few tomatoes!  We love fresh squash! You have far too many peppers and onions."  Keep in mind, these are the same folks who turned down my offer of plants just a couple of months ago. While I am all for sharing the wealth, I am not all for those who take advantage of others' hard work.  Nope, I do not have far too many of any vegetables or fruit.  What we do not eat fresh will be canned for later.  Some jars will make it all the way to Georgia (son, daughter-in-law and grandlittles!), some will go to Darling Daughter and her hubby's place. A lot of fruit, berries and vegetables will be doled out to our elderly friends.  Why, I will not even hesitate to give a couple of these or a few of those, if someone asks but do not demand! I will share but not with those who are ablebodied but too lazy!  The "Little Red Hen Syndrome" strikes again.  Some folks just take, take, take and never wish to lift a pinky finger to help.  

  There is a wise saying that folks can only take advantage of you if you let them.  Although it is hard for me to do, I have learned to say no and stick with it.  Only those who shared in the work shall share the bounty. I am willing to share plants and seeds and I am eager to teach folks the art of home-canning, dehydrating and freezing fruit, herbs and vegetables.  Do not, however, expect me to do all of the work then come demanding the fruits of my labor. It ain't happenin', folks, it ain't happenin'!

By the Tips of Their Tails!

  Recently I have been bemoaning the fact that the Cedar Waxwings have not made their yearly appearance on the Bayou.  I worried about them.  Usually, by this time of year, the birds have come and devoured every berry in sight and have filled the treetops with their whistling calls.  I have missed them.  But, then again, perhaps I am pushing the seasons once again and perhaps the birds are on time....I am not.  But I do not think so.  If I remember rightly, January is the month for these birds to grace the Bayou with their presence.  It is now late February and they are finally here.  This morning as I waited on Mark to join me for our morning hike, I heard the familiar calls high in the oak tree near the pier. Hundreds of the birds were filling every branch of the tall tree.  I had to sit right down and listen to them for a while.  It made me smile.  Having old friends return is good for the soul.

  Here's one for you!  A bit of bird trivia to lighten and brighten your day can be found right here! The Cedar Waxwings that were visiting today had yellow tips on their tails.  While there is nothing unusual about the yellow tips (Cedar Waxwings have yellow tipped tails), some birds have been seen with darker orange tips.  It seems that the change coloring is somewhat recent (in the study of ornithology anyway) appearing during the 1960s.  Scientists have discovered that the orange tips are a result of the birds eating red berries of a certain honeysuckle that was introduced to the United States during that time.  If a bird eats the berries while growing tail feathers, the feathers are tipped in orange.  Eating red berries changed their tail colors!  Imagine that!  I wonder if I ate those berries, it would cover some of the gray in my hair??  Maybe??

  Another bit of trivia....since the Cedar Waxwings are fruit eaters, they sometimes get into a batch of overripe berries.  This is not good. Overripe berries have a tendency to be fermenting thus creating alcohol. Let a flock of Cedar Waxwings devour a bunch of alcohol laden berries and you have drunk birds.  While that may not seem too very drastic, it can be. Some birds die from ingesting the rotten, fermenting berries.  

  The thought of intoxicated birds brings back a memory from my childhood on the farm.  Back behind Pop's big shed there was a huge mulberry tree.  My brother and I used to climb the tree to pick the berries for Mom.  One day while sitting in the tree, we noticed that the chickens below us were acting a mite strange.  They were wobbling and falling and clucking their fool heads off like a bunch of crazy birds.  Pop explained to us that the chickens were all drunk from eating the rotten mulberries that had fallen to the ground and we were warned never to eat any that "tasted strange" or we might act just like those drunk chickens.  That terrified me!  I did not want to go around falling and clucking.  Nope...no rotten mulberries for me!

  Back to the Cedar Waxwings....I am sure glad that they made an appearance on the Bayou.  It is only a matter of time before they will strip every berry dangling on any vine and then be off on their journey homeward to nest.  Thanks for stopping by, Birds! Safe travels!

Winter vs. Spring

Most of the country is in the middle of an epic winter storm..it is COLD out there, folks! Even as far south as my little Bayou House! Here today, our temps stayed in the thirties and we had what was called "wintry mix". Mostly just rain and sleet, but with a stiff north wind! Not a fun day to be out and about! So I stayed inside! I spent the day tackling the clutter in the sewing room..a room that although it is called that, has not seen a whole lot of sewing happening since my daughter moved. Still, the name lingers and also the leftover fabric and sewing machines. I am hoping to clear out any needless junk and reclaim the space as a craft room! Sounds impressive!

Anyway in view of the seemingly never-ending Winter, I have decided that we all need a good dose of Spring!! These are photos that were taken earlier (some might be repeats of earlier posts) but all seemed to shout warmth so they were chosen!

Water Lily in the backyard pond.

Glorioso Lily..just the colors seem warm!

Blackberries! Summertime..Summertime!!!

Any Daisy screams "SPRING!"

Gladiola..can't you just imagine it swaying in a warm Gulf breeze?

Mimosa..always a summer favorite!

Don't Hibiscus blooms just always make you think "Hawaii"?

Woods violets..early spring bloomers!

Strawberries..YUM!!!

Daylily..an all time favorite that blooms all summer!

Irises and Amaryllis..something about the little bug on the Iris makes me think Spring!

Butterfly and Purple Phlox..my warm weather friend!