Some Like It Hot!

   On a whim, I planted some hot peppers that Darling Daughter gave to me.  I had grown several types in the past and had good luck drying them for future use but my stash dwindled so it was time to try again.  She had started the seeds during the spring and brought me a dozen or so plants.  "These are Scotch Bonnets so be careful!" she advised.  Sounded like a deal to me since I had grown the Habaneros previously.  Those are about as hot and spicy as the Scotch Bonnets.  Careful was the word.

  Well, the pepper plants did not do much during the summer even though I took good care of them.  Now, however, they are full of peppers!  Each plant (even though small) has quite a number of peppers.  The stock shall be replenished...maybe....or maybe not.  Something is eating the peppers when they turn orange!  What in the world would munch on such a hot pepper?

  Early this morning, I found the culprit.  It seems that during the night, snails are coming from the mulch to eat the spinach plants and top their salad with a spicy bit of pepper.  The snails have been a problem for several years now.  We had bought sacks of mulch one year and those sacks were full of snails.  Ugh!  Thankfully, I am using the recycled hurricane debris as mulch now and the salt in it seems to do a good job of deterring the snails.  I guess it is time for a new layer of debris mulch around the plants.  I never thought anything would bother those peppers!

Critters at work!

    Well, folks, you know it has been raining a lot when snails seek refuge on the pier.  While it is a common sight to see the snails on pier posts, it is rare to find them on the pier planks unless something has dropped them there.  Nope.  This morning, snails were taking a stroll on the pier.  I had to be careful not to step on them as these are helpful critters.  I sure do not want to smash any critter that is going to do me a favor.

  The olive nerites are sweet little snails that feed on algae.  They are found all over the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean more often in brackish waters like that of the Bayou. They are also popular aquarium critters but will not reproduce in the fresh water.  The snails have a marine larval stage so make use of the brackish water.  Usually, they can be found on anything that stays in the water long enough to get a slight coating of algae.  The lower part of the marsh grass is covered with the critters as they clean the roots and stalks.  To find them on the upper planks makes me think that the copious rains actually encouraged some type of algae growth on the planks.  The snails were merely there to do me the favor of cleaning the boards so I would not slip!  (At least, that is MY story!)

  Hopefully, we shall have a few days to dry out before the next round of bad weather sets in over the Bayou.  Getting any outside chores accomplished has been nigh on impossible and it shows.  Time to get it in high gear for the next few days.  Stay dry, folks, and appreciate the algae eating snails!

Janitors of the mudflats!

  This afternoon, Mr. PJ and I made our way to the pier.  When we reached the spot where low tide creates massive mudflats, an unusual mass exodus was taking place.  Thousands upon thousands of nerite snails were slowly making their way from the water to the mudflats.  These usually cling to the pier posts, crab pots and boats and are not often found heading inshore.  At first this concerned me a bit as thoughts entered my head of the (not too long ago) oil spills that sent every critter into a bit of "getaway" frenzy.  What was up with this long trek for the tiny snails??

  As the old dog and I sat watching the snails (well, he napped, I watched), an answer to my question came to focus.  The snails were not actually going inshore but rather stopping on the mudflats due to their favorite food source was plentiful.  These snails feed on algae and even during high tide (when the flats are flooded) this secluded area is covered with algae.  Since the marsh grass has completely cut off the access route from the Bay, the small cut is dependent on water seeping through the marsh to fill it.  There is no tidal flow to clear out any algae growth so the spot has become completely clogged with the green blob. The bright sunshine has caused the stuff to flourish.

  The small nerites have come to feast upon their favorite food.  Word has gotten out that the "salad bar" of the mudflats is now open! Life on the flats is now dominated by nerites and fiddler crabs as nothing else can survive the clogged waterway.  Before this week, bull minnows, mosquito fish and mullet all sought refuge in the shallows and safety provided by the tide pool.  I could catch bait here with one throw of the net.  Not any more! My last throw caught me about thirty pounds of green slime!  Ok, little snails, feast away!  Eat that gunk out of the pool so the fish can breathe once again!  Do your cleanup job!  Ha!  Nerites...the janitors of the mudflats!  What an important job they have!

The Bayou Serpent!

   There are a lot of weird critters that live in the marsh and waters of the Bayou.  While crabs, shorebirds and fish are all easily recognized, some of the other critters throw me for a loop.  I have several "experts" to turn to in these instances, so all is well.  Still, when I am on the pier at the crack of dawn with no other human in sight and a weird critter pokes its head out of the water to take a look at me, it can get downright creepy!  

  This happened the other morning.  Mr. PJ (the old dog) had opted to stay inside so I went alone.  Without his noise-making, the wild critters continued their hunt for breakfast.  The snapping turtle eyed me cautiously, the otter mom barked furiously at me and the heron came on to breakfast.  It was a good morning for critter-watching!  However...

  As I was preparing to throw the net to catch bait, a dark "head" bobbled from beneath the water.  With the sun not yet bright enough to shed light on my unknown "critter", I thought it best to wait on that net casting.  The critter that was eyeing me with two beady knobs atop its head may not appreciate being caught.  I figured the best thing to do would be wait and watch.  The "critter" submerged again and the surfaced nearer the pier.  Now that the sun was brighter and the unknown thing was closer, I had to giggle.  My critter was not a critter at all!  It was a snail encrusted chunk of a palm tree!  As the waves bobbled the wannabe sea serpent on under the pier, I could make out that it was two knots on the wood that appeared to be eyes peering at me through the darkness!  Goodness!  My imagination does run wild sometimes!

  Oh, the things I find on this Bayou!  While it may have been exciting to find a new critter, I am rather glad that this was not one!  Or, at least, let me find something weird only when someone else is on the pier with me.  No one would ever believe me, otherwise!

In cramped quarters

  My day started with me tearing into the garden.  It is time for the "out with the old and in with the new"!  Well, not "in" for a while but at least the old is going to the compost pile.  I yanked out so many old, spent tomato plants and purple basil plants that my arms are aching.  All of the tomato cages were stacked and stored for another year and the garden boxes had their soil turned.  Things will be in order for the fall garden and that time is nigh upon us. 

  While clearing the boxes, I had to ponder just how some plants ever get themselves in the predicaments that they do.  A woods violet seed germinated between the boards of one of the boxes.  It barely had room enough for the stalk to squeeze through but it appeared to be quite healthy.  I now have the task of removing the plant without damaging the roots.  This plant will make its way to Darling Daughter's new place and planted down by the creek.  The little plant should do well there and can spread happiness when it blooms.  But, I do wonder just how the plant shoved through the tiny slit between the boards and how it managed to get enough nutrition and water to survive much less thrive.  Woods Violets must be rather hardy plants!

I found the hiding place of the wicked snails!  Most fell to the ground when I moved the box.

  Another find was not quite so happy as the violet.  As I moved a couple of the boxes, I found just where the scads of snails hide during the day. In the dark, cool recess between the boxes, there was just enough space for the snails to hide out from the heat of the day.  Now that I made this discovery, the elimination process shall begin!  I had the grand idea of pouring boiling water in each box but thankfully had second thoughts. That boiling water would also kill my lovely earthworms that till the soil for me.  With the snails on the outside of the boxes, the water would never reach the earthworms.  So...."Double, double toil and trouble!  Fire burn, cauldron bubble!"  We shall leave out the fenny snake and eye of newt but that pot of hot water should eliminate thousands of plant-chewing snails with no trouble!

What do you call a large group of snails?

  We have all heard of collective names for things like a gaggle of geese, a covey of quail and flock of sheep but what about some of the more unusual group names?  Have you ever heard of a wisdom of owls?  A congress of baboons?  Or how about a murder of crows? Yes?  Well, then does a pandemonium of parrots, a party of blue jays and a trip of goats ring a bell?  I find a lot of the collective names quite amusing (think congress of baboons here) but I often wondered what happened to the rest of the animals, insects, and otherwise just critters? Do all critters have collective names? Take snails, for instance, are they lumped together under some grand sounding title?  I mean if jellyfish are deemed important enough to be called a fluther, then snails should rate something.  Perhaps I have just never heard of it.  So, I searched and found out that we may call a group of snails by the lovely collective name of a "walk".  Yep!  A walk of snails!  That just does not even make one bit of sense!  Snails do not walk!  I shall just call them a nuisance!  A nuisance of snails makes a whole lot more sense to me.

  This whole pondering came about today as I was out playing in the garden.  My vegetable garden is interspersed with any number of "volunteer" flowers.  Much to Son's vexation, I leave the flowers grow. "Vegetable gardens should have vegetables, not flowers." he tells me often.  The flowers stay. Like I said, I was out playing when I came across the most unacceptable plight.  The wood violets under the tomato plants were literally coated with snails!  This, my friends, is not something I relish.  Snails eat lovely holes in most everything so they will have to go.  I lifted the leaves of a single violet plant and found over thirty of the despicable mollusks.  GO AWAY!  I handpicked the little varmints to be exterminated in the most gentlest method...yeah, right. (Maybe I have now figured out the idea behind "walk"....SMASH!) I believe these critters are multiplying faster than I can gather them. Thousands upon thousands of snails have invaded the garden space. (Truly!  I am not exaggerating with that estimation. They are everywhere!)  Perhaps the rainy summer has encouraged the breeding of the critters but I shall have to find a way to eliminate them if the garden is expected to grow.  Perhaps a bit of diatomaceous earth is in order.  This is nontoxic to pets and humans but is a great critter eradicator. Snails, beware!  I mean you harm!

  Oh, by the way, a group of slugs.....a cornucopia.  Huh? A cornucopia of slugs?  Ugh!  Not in my cornucopia, you don't! I already have a walk of snails invading the veggies, you slugs can just forget about it!

Beware of brothers bearing gifts!

All was going well today..I had cleaned the house, done the laundry and even baked chocolate chip cookies! Any day with home-baked cookies is a good day! Then the telephone rang. I cheerfully answered the call and was delighted to hear my brother's voice. He told me that he and his granddaughter were at my door..another reason to be happy! His granddaughter brings smiles galore to the Little Bayou House! I raced to the door..flung it open..heard him say.."I brought you a present!" Uh oh..that made me a tad uneasy..brothers bearing gifts?? He usually just leaves the veggies at the door..he never makes a big "to do" about anything he brings. This confused me. This is when the whole mess started. His granddaughter handed me a large, green bowl..covered with paper towels..and chirping. Chirping??? Oh, noooo!!!

Yep..you guessed it. In this large, green bowl, down deep under the paper towels, were two tiny Mockingbirds. Oh, geez..this is just what I needed! I looked at him questioningly.."Why?". He grinned from ear to ear.."Its a present!" I frowned.."Why me??? What are you talking about???" His granddaughter looked at me so innocently and said.."We knew you would know how to take care of them!" She beamed.."They will live now!" Oh geez..just what I needed..but how could I say no to that little face? So..I now have two baby birds in my house. Two very loud..very hungry..baby Mockingbirds. It seems that they were pushed from the nest by the larger siblings and were being attacked by a dog. One of these had already been pounced upon by the dog and did not look too healthy. But I would try.

Hubby was kind enough to make a run to the pet store and get advice. They informed him of the proper food stuffs and feeding methods. He came home with two tiny containers of food stuffs. One..a plastic box of (wiggly) meal worms..the other (not so wiggly) dead snail pieces. I was to smash the meal worms and feed a few to the birds and start with a minimum of snail pieces. "Try tweezers." Good advice..bad advice. The tweezers worked great for picking up the worms but were not so great as feeding devices. The goofy worms stuck to the tweezers and would not stay in the birds' gaping mouths. I had to resort to the fingers. Ooey gooey worms were smashed and fed to hungry birds. This was not so bad! Now for the snail pieces. I opened the can..UGH!!!! Those things stink...horribly!! Nasty! I picked up one..yep..not one of my favorite things in the world to hold. Poke..gobble..I can't believe they like them!

Both little birds seem to be doing ok for now. Even the little weak one has gained strength and is competing for food now. I hope they both make it through the night..that will give me hope that I am doing something right here. We shall see..oops..feeding time again! Again...beware of brothers bearing gifts..and little girls with sweet smiles..both can mean trouble!!! Why me????

Escargot or Just Plain Old Snails?

It is interesting how something can jog a memory that for so long lay dormant in the back of the brain. Today while on the pier, a single snail caught my attention and held it for quite some time. Not that this creature was doing anything spectacular ..actually being a snail, it was not "doing" much of anything other than hanging on a piece of marsh grass. I sat staring at this slow moving "sloth" of the gastropod world. They just sort of hang around doing lovely snaily things and then whenever it strikes their fancy, they slowly move to another blade of grass. (Not unlike a sloth in the rain forest!) This "snail" is actually a Marsh Periwinkle and is a variety of Escargot. Marsh Periwinkles are edible and can be found quite abundantly in the marshes here. Not too many people ever think of it as a food source..I know that I have never had the inclination to make a meal of them! This lone snail jogged a memory from long, long ago. "Back in the day"..now that really tells my age..my grandmother told me a story of a time when she was given a tiny, toy cast iron stove. Her mother sent her out to play with this stove. She was not satisfied with pretend cooking so she decided to try out her stove with real food. She gathered a mess of Periwinkles, cooked them in a can on this stove and then dined quite happily on her meal. She was quite ingenious to use a hairpin to pull the unlucky critter from its shell for consumption. She thought they were delicious!

I guess it was not really uncommon for children to play with fire, tromp in marsh or eat strange things in my grandmother's day. I am sure that we did things that made my mother's hair turn gray prematurely, too. There were times that I wondered how my own three survived their childhoods. I tried to let my children learn by experience while living on the Bayou. They did things that their peers had never heard of..nor..thought of doing. They walked to the creek, went "scavenging" along the shoreline, released an alligator into the Bayou, fished in the Bay, planted gardens and made friends with "wild" animals. I had everything from frogs and crabs to baby otters in my bathtub. More than once I found baby birds and baby squirrels in boxes in their rooms. At one point, there was even a baby 'possum taking up residence in the living room! Any homeless animal ended up as our house guest until it was able to be released into the wild again. I think children need to interact with wildlife to gather a healthy respect for nature. Maybe not by eating the Marsh Periwinkles but still experiencing a life that did not always involve some type of "artificial" entertainment. Don't get me wrong..my kids had their game systems and all sorts of toys..maybe too many..but there was always a healthy mix. When they get together now that they are grown, more often than not..it is these times that they are reminiscing.

My..how we have changed through the years..no parent these days would dream of allowing their little one to do these things! Things change from generation to generation and sometimes it is for the better..but then..maybe not.