Unlike some folks, when I am wrong, I am wrong and I admit it. No problem. Why argue a dead point? If a mistake is made, own up to it. Do not try to justify your mistaken ideas. Do not try to prove the other person wrong. Just say "I was mistaken." and let it go. SO...that said...I owe my husband an apology. I was wrong. He was right. I had long disbelieved something about a critter here on the Bayou. I fully thought it was a myth that male catfish will actually brood the eggs after the female lays them. I had to see it before I believed it. Well, I saw it so now I am a believer. He does, indeed, carry them in his mouth. During the month or so of brooding the eggs, the male catfish does not eat. He survives on built up fat in his body. Sometimes even after the eggs hatch, the little ones will linger in his mouth for protection from predators. He guards them until it is safe for them to be on their own. Discovering this, I have a new found appreciation for the lowly hardhead catfish.
Late this afternoon, I headed to the pier. It had been a long day of pushing the lawnmower about the hillside and I needed a break. As usual, Moe, the heron, visited making net-throwing a necessity. The bird was hungry so I caught him a few little mullet. Also in the net, was a medium sized hardhead catfish. My first thought was to use the catfish as crab bait so I shook him free from the net and picked him up to de-horn him. There was no use in getting stabbed by one of those prongs! That hurts! It was then that I noticed his bulging lower jaw. Hmmm...interesting. Just about that time, poor Daddy Catfish gasped for breath and three eggs fell out of his mouth! Oops! After a few photographs, Daddy Catfish was gently placed back in the water with his horns intact! Hopefully, he will find the three errant eggs that were also dropped back into the water.
So, Mark, I cede to your wisdom on this matter! I have lived on or near the Bayou all of my life and never knew about the struggles of the male catfish. I have learned something new and interesting!
My morning started with the usual walk around the gardens. I get this from Pop. From an early age, I can remember getting up at the crack of dawn just to wander about the fields with him. We "looked" at things. He told me how to plant seeds. He explained how seeds sprout and would dig deep in the soil to uncover a squash or bean seed that had a sprout worming its way from its hard outer shell. He taught me to recognize weeds and told me to keep a clean garden. I cherished our times together and learned an awful lot from this man. So now, I continue the tradition but do it alone. When Mark can, he joins me in our hikes but, more oft than not, I am digging in the dirt by myself. I do not mind. I think a lot while getting dirty.
Today, I smiled as I rounded the edge of the vegetable patch and made my way to the garden gate. Several daylilies were blooming. While I like daylilies (and flowers in general), these are special. My sweet daughter-in-law, Joanna, gave them to me years ago. I planted hundreds of rhizomes that she sent down from Starkville, Mississippi. There were all sorts of beautiful blooms that grew from those knotty roots! I was tickled then and still grin each time another bloom opens. The daylilies are special simply because she thought of me.
Odd fact about daylilies....they are not true lilies. Lilies belong to the Illium family while daylilies belong to the Hemerorcallis family.
Odd fact...there are over 60,000 varieties of daylilies!
Odd fact...daylilies are so called because their blooms open only during the day and only for one day.
Odd fact...there is one night-blooming variety called the H. Citrina that is a pale yellow.
Odd fact...unlike a true lily, daylily roots and flowers are edible! They are used mostly in Asian cuisine but have gained popularity in other countries.
Odd fact...for culinary uses, the flowers can be purchased fresh or dried.
Odd fact...daylily blooms are nutritious as they are a good source of vitamins and minerals. The blooms can help detox the body.
Odd fact...some folks believe that eating daylily blooms can cure insomnia.
Odd fact...an old myth says that if a woman wants to give birth to a male child, she should wear daylilies on her waist.
Odd fact...daylilies grow from rhizomes not bulbs.
Odd fact...a tisane made with daylily blooms is said to be calming. It is used as a stress reliever.
Now you know just about everything that I do about daylilies. These plants are easy to grow and require little to no care after planting. With all of the above mentioned benefits, it seems like a good idea to plant plenty of them in the garden! Not to mention, they are sure pretty to view first thing in the morning!
Since I posted a list of "odd facts" about the gardenia flower, I thought it would be only proper to do the same about the mimosa flower. The two are blooming at the moment here on the Bayou making the hillside a regular fashion show of pink and white. My sweet granddaughter would be loving this if she was here!
Odd fact....mimosa trees have bipinnate leaves made up of small, oblong leaflets. These leaflets close up at night and reopen when the morning sun hits them.
Odd fact....these leaves can also sense movement. Scientists believe that the closing is a way of repelling annoying insects.
Odd fact....mimosas produce flowerheads that contain many flowers that have a soft fluffy appearance. This fluffiness is do to the long hot pink stamens!
Odd fact...the dried seed pods rattled by the wind can sometimes fool a person into thinking a rattlesnake is nearby.
Odd fact....mimosa is a highly invasive plant that is nigh on impossible to kill. If you do not remove all pieces of root, the tree will just sprout up again and will have several trunks to replace the one. Mimosa is a great tree to use for "sustainable" firewood. It is fast growing and multiplies quickly.
Odd fact....mimosa pudica, the scientific name, means shy or bashful plant and is due to the leaf folding habit.
Odd fact...and perhaps the oddest of the bunch....what we call mimosas here on the Coast are not mimosas at all. We have albizias (also spelled albezias or albizzias) It is a beautiful tree with flower similar to mimosa and the "odd facts" still apply to this tree as well! Almost anyway...the name one, of course, does not apply! Now, go figure!
The best part of this time of year is all of the fragrances that fill the yard. Over the years, I have planted things that bloom at different times of the year. All of these blooms waft aromas over the hillside in waves of sumptuousness! Citrus trees, peach trees, wisteria, roses, jasmine...all leave the yard sweetly scented. Just this week, the jasmine is starting to fade so it is being replaced by the delightful gardenias and magnolias. I happen to like the gardenias so much that I have rooted another dozen or so! This should just about fill the entire yard with their happy blooms and enticing scent.
Odd fact....gardenias belong in the coffee plant family. Now go figure! I knew there had to be some link as I love both!
Odd fact....while gardenia blooms are usually white ( a few are pale yellow), if the petals come in contact with water, they turn "coffee-brown". While I love coffee, brown gardenia water just does not have the same appeal.
Odd fact....gardenia blooms make great flavoring for ice cream! The fresh blooms can be used as an ingredient in making homemade ice cream. The ice cream tastes "flowery" and smells just like the bloom. I have made this and it is really tasty!
Odd fact....after the bloom fades, a small fruit appears. When ripe, this fruit is used to make a yellow dye that can be used in food or fabric. This I have not tried! Maybe I should!
Odd fact....some herbal concoctions use the gardenia fruit as a fever reducer. Another thing that I have not tried. Maybe I should not.
Odd fact...ok...enough odd facts about the gardenia bush. Trust me when I say that this is a wonderful addition to any garden. The dark green foliage and brilliant white blossoms add visual pleasure while the fragrance will knock your socks off! If you are wearing socks and are not barefoot like I usually am. Then there is the added bonus of using the blossoms as air freshener inside the house! A vase of gardenias makes everything smell better!
