I may have eaten some of that, when I was younger.

"What is that?" my son asked.

Unfortunately, I didn't have an answer for him. In my eyes it was just some kind of plant with pretty berries, that sprung up in the wheel barrow. I water it and move it around to different locations.

The plant is called Pokeweed. All of this plant is poisonous but in the springtime some people have made Polk Salad from the leaves. The leaves should be boiled three times and prepared by someone who is familiar with this plant. I do recall when I was younger hearing about this dish. There is a good possibility I have eaten some Polk Salad. Remembering or knowing if I have is the problem.

                                                  Enjoy Polk Salad Annie by Tony Joe White


                                                                                                                                     

Don't You Just LOVE Surprises!

     Looking out the kitchen window, I noticed a tall flower along the edge of the creek. I knew exactly what it was because it appeared last year and I had researched its name. The internet is so useful for finding out information on plants and animals. The next day after a little rain, the two-foot stemmed pink flower had fallen over. I remembered it had fallen over last year also. I thought maybe a squirrel or cat had stepped on it. I was a little sad. I went out to investigate because even if it was broken, I still wanted a picture. To my surprise, it was just leaning over on the ground. I held it up to take a photo and then placed a rock against its stem for support. I noticed two other buds next to it getting ready to make their appearances.
     Last year while trying to stand the flower up, I broke it so I brought it in and put it in a vase. This year I was careful and was able to leave it to be enjoyed.

To every thing there is a season. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Surprise Lily

Today, I tasted Memories. I tasted Love.

    I have been anticipating opening the jar of honey ever since I purchased it last week. I guess because I was looking forward in recapturing a moment in time; a time of screen doors and country morning sunshines, where I am sitting at grandma's kitchen table eating bacon, eggs and biscuits smothered with delicious golden honey.

     One summer morning in 1969, I was introduced to honey with it's comb. My life forever changed. To me, it was the greatest tasting food on earth and to a child that craved sweetness, I was in pure happiness.

     I wondered if I would receive the same experience as I did that first time since I hadn't had honey with it's comb since then.
   
     I prepared my biscuits, twisted open the jar, and the aroma filled my nose and memories flooded my mind. As I dipped my biscuit into the honey I appreciated every taste. I didn't have honey everyday, just as I didn't eat at Cracker Barrel everyday. So I savored the moment. Every time I eat at a Cracker Barrel, I feel like I am on vacation. There is a reason for this. It is because when my family would travel we would stop by there for breakfast. But since there is one in town now and I can eat there anytime, I make sure I don't.

     When grandmother told me I could bite into the comb, I trusted her and discovered it to be even sweeter than the honey. What a surprised. The wax gave an ever lasting, chew like, gum experience. And being a child, I loved gum.

     Today, I tasted memories. I tasted love.

Do You Know What This Is?

     While I was out photographing this winter I came upon this unusual stick-branch-young tree standing where two waterflows diverge. I don't like cold weather so that is why you haven't seen any posts from me. But on one sunny, cold day I decided to take a gander and see what could possibly be on the grounds. I had seen this nature stick before but just didn't photograph it or think about it too much. It is pretty unusual to me because I don't know anything about it. I began my research by googling tree with thorns.

     Some of you to nature buffs know exactly what it is! Well, to my surprise, I learned it is called a Devil's Walkingstick. I have heard of that before but never really knew what it was. I think I would like to much rather call it by its other name - Hercules Club. When spring arrives I plan to go out and take another picture of it. 

     I found out that Adams' Country Retreat has something in common with a few Botanical Gardens. One can find this tree on a their grounds also. I know for sure at the Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas and at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. It is suppose to flower in July or August and have fruits in August or September. It is a great wildlife cover and the fruits are eaten by many types of birds: cardinals, sparrows, thrushes, mockingbirds, robins, rusty blackbirds, orioles, bluebirds and towhees. I also captured a nice picture of a towhee that was following me around while I was taking pictures. He must be waiting around for this tree to fruit. The flowers attract bees and numerous butterflies - which I am happy about because I love watching the butterflies!

Hummingbirds

     If you're thinking about taking your hummingbird feeder down please don't. If you are worried that by leaving it up too long you are preventing the birds from flying south, please don't be because my research tells me that hummingbirds migrate according to hormonal changes and leaving the feeder up won't make them stay longer than they normally would. The changes are set off by the length of light during the day and other factors.



(male) Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

     By leaving your feeder up you are helping the birds increase their weight that they are going to need for their migration. I have found out the migration should be finished by Thanksgiving. I've learned you can do this or wait a week or two after you don't see your regulars anymore before taking the feeders down.

     Hummingbirds usually live up to 3 or 4 years. There was one recorded that lived up to 12 years of age.  According to worldofhummingbirds.com, the summer habitat of the ruby-throated hummingbird is eastern North America and Canadian prairies. Their winter habitat is southern Mexico, Central America and as far south as Costa Rica and the West Indies.

     As you can see I only use natural sugar and water. The mixture can be made by adding 1 cup sugar to 4 cups water and boiling for one minute only. Let mixture cool completely before refilling feeder. Mixture should be kept fresh once a week.

 

 



Grapevine with No Grapes

     John 15:1-8 states, "I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Gardener. He cuts off any branches that are not producing fruit, and He prunes the branches which are producing fruit so they will produce even more fruit. You are already pruned because of the message I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit if it is cut off from the Vine, and you cannot be fruitful if you are apart from Me."
     "I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me, and I remain in you then you will produce much fruit. But apart from Me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from Me is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into a pile and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you can ask any request you wish, and it will be given. This is to my Father's glory..."

 

    I have been asked many times, "What is that vine over there?" And many times I have said I don't really know I think it is kudzu but I really hope not. Since I have started this blog I have begun researching and learning about all things living on the wildlife habitat. I don't understand why it has taken me so long to appreciate all that is here. I wonder now, so many times why I have been so blind to all that was around me. Also in studying the scriptures of the bible, I find that there are many references to nature. Plant and animals share a special relationship in helping mankind realize God is real and He is with us.

    

 

These are pictures of the grapevine that has never been pruned back so it is not producing any fruit. It has not been taken care of as it should have been. Another kind of plant is intermixing with it and causing sunlight not to be able to reach it's branches. My research also tells me that the vine needs to be placed horizontally to produce fruit. Right now the vine has attached itself to a tree located next to it and is growing right along with the tree vertically. This grapevine needs a gardener and someone to take care of it. Then it will be able to produce fruit as it should. Without a gardener and on its own, you can see what is happening.

Hackberry Tree and Butterfly

     I stopped this tree from growing many times because I did not want it in the kid's play yard but since my children have grown and the play yard is no longer suitable for them, I have allowed the tree to grow and boy does it. I have learned to appreciate it with its limbs that reach out for birds to sit on. They can get a little shade after enjoying a bath in the birdbath that is now the main use for the "used to be" play yard. Since the play yard has "gone to the birds" I am happy that I can watch and take pictures of the birds enjoying themselves.

      I have a sprinkler connected to a hose and will turn it on to refill and refresh the birdbath. Sometimes birds will hear the running water and all types will come to drink or bathe. The Hackberry tree located near in the corner near the birdbath provides fruit for the birds in the wintertime. It also provides the Hackberry butterfly or Hackberry Emperor as it is sometimes known, with food with its young leaves.
    

Hackberry Emperor

  

Hackberries

Hackberry Tree

This Hackberry tree is about five years old. I have learned to appreciate this tree as our ancestors did so many years ago. Native Americans prepared the fruit with fat and corn for food and would also prepare a paste cooked over fire. The tree can grow up to 80 ft. tall and can live up to 200 years. It is the oldest known foraged tree. It was used as a main source of calories.

Do you have a Hackberry tree in your yard?