Thankfully, (at the moment) I have very few allergies. I know that could change with the drop of a hat but, for now, I can wander the hillside with little or no ill effects. This fact was one to ponder today as I sat on the pier. Throughout the marsh, the yellow blooms of goldenrod were bobbing in the slight breeze. These gorgeous blooms were intermingled with the (not so showy) ragweed blooms. As I sat watching the softly swaying blooms, it occurred to me that that poor goldenrod catches so much flack by allergy sufferers. The accusations are misdirected, however, as it is the ragweed that causes all the sniffling, sneezing and watery eyes. It is easy to understand the misconception, though, as the two plants usually grow side by side and, since the goldenrod is much more noticeable, folks tend to believe that is the culprit. Not so. It is those little nondescript blooms of the ragweed that are the meanies!
In reality, goldenrod can actually be used as a treatment for the allergy to ragweed. Many sufferers find great relief when using goldenrod. While many of us "old-timers" resort to actually using wild plants for our remedies, recently, herbal remedies have hit the market. Folks are returning to old time cures from our grandparents' era. Herbal capsules, pills ointments and syrups can be found lining the drugstore shelves whereas just a few years back, these methods were ridiculed. A lot changes with time.
So folks, take you allergy meds as directed but put the blame where it is supposed to be. Goldenrod is a wonderful plant to have about the place. If you are sneezing, look closer and you will most likely find a plant that has some teeny, tiny almost green, knotty blooms hidden in with the showy goldenrod blooms. THAT is the source of your problems and not my pretty goldenrod!
It is funny how many "old wives' tales" stick around and are believed by those who obviously cannot think for themselves. The preposterous ideas remain steadfast and are defended vehemently. One such idea popped into my head today as I was hiking to the pier with the old dog, Mr. PJ. He has a liking for a certain grass that grows near the marsh edge so I have to sort of be on watch for snakes while he munches. Since he is not a true "Bayou Dog", as of yet, he is a bit oblivious to snakes and just might graze his way right on top of one. A nasty bite from a cottonmouth would surely do the old fellow in so I try to stay between the dog and the danger zone. While he was eating, I noticed "Snake Spit" on most of the larger stalked plants that were popping up in the boggy soil. With the sight of the white, foamy goop on the stems of the plants, my brain started sliding back in time when Mark and I first married. The "Snake Spit" was ingrained in some of the family members' heads and they would immediately start sprinting from the area. Regardless of my explanation of what the goo actually is, they still stuck with their belief of it actually being snake spit. They were not open to any explanations and actually called me a few names that were not the nicest. So, I quit trying to give any information. Let folks believe the ridiculousness if they wish.
Snake Spit has nothing to do with snakes at all. The white foam is actually the product of a small bug called (of all things) a spittlebug. This little critter that greatly resembles the leafhopper is the culprit that adorns the garden with the unsightly mess. The mama spittlebug lays her eggs on the stalks of plants and when those eggs hatch, the little ones immediately start to suck the plant juices from the stalk. While some is used for food, most is turned into that foamy mess. This hides the nymph, keeps it from drying out and regulates the temperature around the nymph. Since the nymph is so tiny, not too many predators will take a bite of the nasty tasting foam for a minuscule tidbit of a bug.
My thoughts, today, were not really about that bug and its foamy home but were more about how forcefully some folks stick with their misguided ideas. Never try to change these folks minds. You will talk yourself blue in the face and still not convince them that what they have long believed is erroneous. With the spittlebugs and their "snake spit", this all comes from a deep seated fear of snakes. The same folks who argued me down about the origin of the spittle are also the ones that think that every snake is "poisonous" and that snakes actually stalk people just to bite them. (Don't even try to explain the difference between poisonous and venomous...just don't. It is a losing battle.) Poor, misguided folks. They do not realize how many amazing things they are missing because of fear. Yep. even those spittle bugs are pretty amazing when you think about it.
