Do I Dare??

   One of the banes of living on this property is the overgrowth of Smilax.  Those thorny vines are everywhere and can grow about a foot every day if left to their own doings.  Son has dug out so many of the large root balls that it has become a sort of standing joke when I find yet another vine engulfing a tree, building or garden.  The things are relentless!  They seem to have an undying desire to take over the whole place no matter how hard we try to keep them in check.

  This morning, I found that the goofy vines have taken root in the marsh and have made their way up into the live oak trees that line the property where yard meets marsh.  Just a mere five years ago, I had cleared this area after Hurricane Zeta ruined the tree line.  I carefully cleared everything down to the marsh edge and was a happy camper with my work.  Then one thing or another got in the way of my keeping it nice and tidy.  This morning's discovery also gave sight to the billion or so berries that are soon to drop as seeds.  More smilax.  More aggravation.  So...there was nothing to do but research these plants a bit more.

  While I knew that the roots and new shoots of the vines were edible, I had no idea the extent of uses of its parts.  Supposedly, the new shoots taste a lot like asparagus and the roots can be boiled, roasted or used to make a flour.  Those roots are also the base of Sarsaparilla.  Come to find out those lovely berries are also edible and are used to make jelly.  Who knew??? I sure did not!  

  Now the question...do I dare?  With close to a thousand jars of home-canned goodies (including jams and jellies) on the shelves, it seems pointless to add yet another batch of jelly...but I am curious.  Will this taste good?  Have I been missing out on a delight that has literally been handed to me time and time again?  Perhaps I should stop looking at the Smilax as a curse and see the gift that Mother Nature has been trying to give to me.  Smilax jelly may be in the works this week!  Now to figure out how to pick the berries while avoiding the wicked thorns.  Wish me luck!

*Update:  It appears that I got this wild hair of Smilax jelly a bit too late as the "berries" are already past their prime.  Obviously, I needed to pick them in the late fall. I shall try again in 6 to 8 months...if the hurricane season plays nicely and I do not get sidetracked by cleanup.  I shall post again then about the adventures in Smilax as a foodstuff!

Its a Regular Fruit Compote Out There!

  Darling Daughter and I took a hike about the hillside the other day as we searched for an injured loon.  My son and husband had seen the poor bird flopping about in the water but, try as they might, they could not catch the bird.  They did, however, get a good eyeful of what was bothering the bird.  Someone had evidently lost a fishing lure and the bird thought it was a tasty treat.  The lure was lodged not only in the loon's bill but also in its shoulder.  This left the bird most helpless so we were all searching and hoping to help it.  When we edged near the east most side of the shore, we did not find the poor injured bird but she spied a bunch of berries dangling from a long vine.  "What are those berries?" she asked.  Well, memory failed me at the moment but after a bit, I recalled the name.  The smilax vine was loaded with huge balls of black berries!  As I photographed the smilax vine, she queried about the red berries that were growing right next to the smilax.  "I remember these berries growing all over the place but never knew the name."  That I knew right off...yaupon!  The yaupon berries were showing their brightest red of the season.

  While there is a thought that the smilax berries could be edible (I have heard this but have not tried them.), it is common knowledge that you better not try the yaupon berries.  Those will definitely cause problems in the way of severe vomiting.  Birds, however, seem not to have a problem with either and will soon strip both the smilax vine and the yaupon shrub of their fruit.  It is about time for the cedar waxwings to visit the Bayou.  Once they arrive, our compote of black and red berries (along with any other berry in view!) will disappear in a matter of minutes.  I am good with that.

  Our search for the loon was in vain, though, which makes me sad, indeed.  I have called my cousin, Michelle, in on the quest and she has been searching the marsh line over her way.  Hopefully, someone will spy the bird and be able to catch it.  There is not much hope for its survival with the hooks embedded as they are.  The poor bird cannot fly, swim or eat.  If not helped, the loon will die a slow, painful death.  This is why I abhor lures with double treble hooks.  Folks, please be careful out there...wildlife depends on us to use a bit of commonsense now and again.