Fountainbleu Nature Trail (Part 2)

 

I wish I had captured the sounds as there were lots of birds chirping during our hike. I really enjoyed the shady glades with the ferns as it got pretty warm.

The habitat is known as a Pine Savanna and it's very important to our ecosystem. You can read more about it here. The Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge does controlled burns to help the pines. 

I really want to do another hike soon as you see different things as different times of the year. 

I think this is a wild hydrangea. I really wish I had taken notes during the hike. ~Sandra, reporting for ATCAD

Nature Hike with Mom

 Back in June Mom went on a Nature Hike in Ocean Springs. This is the Fontainebleau Trail and it's part of the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. 

Did you know people can eat this? It's called Greenbrier (although Mom has a $*** name for it) and is sometimes referred to as Wild Asparagus. You can read about it here. It grows in our neighbors yard and viciously attacks our azaleas. It also tries to kill Mom when she tries to rescue the azaleas, hence the HBO name for it. Mom reports that it tasted OK raw, but sauteed in butter would probably be the yummiest way. Unfortunately Mark didn't seem to have a skillet full of butter handy on the nature walk.

Mark LaSalle was the guide, Mom knows him from when youngest was in Scouts. He is very knowledgeable about plants and animals. She trusted him enough to eat the Greenbrier.

Mom saw a lot of neat plants. She will share more of them tomorrow. As you can imagine hummingbirds like this plant. You might remember that Mom planted some Coral Honeysuckle at the Hummingbird Cottage. ~ATCAD