Shelter provides places for wildlife to roost, nest, hide, and be safe from harsh weather. Trees, bushes, and ground-hugging plants all provide shelter for wildlife. – Denise Fleming, author “Where Once There Was a Wood.”
Every day, could I find something to smile about, to be tickled by? Could an appreciation of simple joys be so constant that it becomes my natural habit. – Gunilla Norris, author “Simple Ways.”
Most evenings when the weather allows, Sam and I take a ride on the Gator around the edge of the tree line. The persimmon trees are just getting started showing off persimmons. Right now, they are green but will soon turn juicy and orange as we leave summer behind and fall takes over. Deer love eating persimmons; so perhaps we’ll be able to offer some seasonal food when they return. There’re also a few American sweetgum trees. They are not particularly wonderful unless you live where they have plenty of room for their root system. In fall the leaves will turn vibrant yellow, orange, and red. Another feature of the gumball tree is the “gumball” hanging on the trees right now in green, as winter comes the gumball with little spikes will turn brown. Spraying gumballs gold makes a festive ornament in a bowl or hanging on a tree. As a child I remember playing with gumballs and trying not to step on them.
A little further on our ride we noticed a tree with small red berries. The tree is identified as Carolina Buckthorn. The tree’s berries are inedible to humans but good for some birds, such as cedar wax wings and robins. Mice and squirrels will also eat them. Butterflies and caterpillars are attracted to the berries. This year we had a plethora of butterflies. They are so beautiful. The Carolina Buckthorn has been known to grow up to 30 feet in height. If the red berries hang on, they too would be an asset to natural holiday ornaments.
We have some old oak trees around the property. They look beautiful with their leaves and acorns. The squirrels love them. Mississippi has at least 34 species of native oak trees according to Google. The pecan trees do not seem to be doing well. Pecan trees are supposed to live a very long life, but I don’t think ours will. The limbs are limp, and the leaves are gone. We don’t see pecans, though that could be due to squirrels and raccoons. Damage could also be due to this year’s storms, heavy winds, and intense heat.
After the tree line ride, we feed the lake fish from the deck. Some weeks ago, a pond turtle appeared just outside the door. He scurried to the lake with me following. Since then, the turtle comes to the feeding when I call him. Nature is a strange but beautiful thing.
Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
