Browsing: Qu’est Que C’est

Our first encounters with living things in our lives started with Mom or Dad telling us what it was called – its common name. And for me, those are the ones that I remember best. But, for other folks, those names may not be the same as mine. The shrub I call Mamou is Coral Bean to others. Same plant, with one scientific name, Erythrina herbacea

Five years have passed since the grass covered lot in Moss Point began its journey toward restoration to a mature natural wetland. To look at it now, it can appear to untrained eyes to be a mess – a tangled thicket of weeds and shrubs that, well, looks messy. Let me tell you why it is not and what it will look like as it continues its journey to a mature Bayhead Swamp that it is meant to be.

For many of us, an unhurried walk in nature is medicine for the mind and soul. Whether strolling through a local park or a nature trail, the sights and sounds can provide a respite for life’s stresses. There is always something new to discover, even on a trail or path that we have walked a hundred times.

Of all the yard critters that we encounter, box turtles are favorites. They often become pets of sorts when we offer them treats, and if done regularly, they can become demanding. Stories of turtles waiting at the back door or even looking into the house “asking” for attention are not uncommon. We humans are trainable that way. Cute names are often assigned.

Of our common backyard birds, Northern Cardinals stand out and are likely the very first bird we recognized as a child. According to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, male cardinals are perhaps most responsible for getting folks to begin to want to learn more about birds. But what do we really know about this iconic bird?  

To watch a flock of Brown Pelicans fly in formation is mesmerizing. They line up behind one another, often in V-shaped formations behind a lead bird.

A ride beside the artificial beaches along Highway 90 in coastal Mississippi provides a great view of the Mississippi Sound, but is often framed with what has become an extensive system of sand dunes, dressed in the ultimate dune plant – Sea Oats. Everything about this plant is designed to live in what is a harsh environment of sand and wind.

OK, who loves cockroaches? No one! Well, Ensign Wasps do and when you see one, you know they are on the hunt. These small active wasps are not hard to distinguish from the many small insects that can be found flying about in your home. They are harmless and interesting to watch as they seek their victims.

Treetops have been a place I always wanted to visit. Being afraid of heights has kept me on the ground, but I remain enamored with what I can see and hear from the safety of terra firma. Taking the time to arch your neck and look up into the canopy is a worthy exercise if nothing more than to wonder and contemplate what lies above.  

Have you ever noticed nearly perfect round holes in leaves and wonder what made them? Well, wonder no more, for you have proof that leafcutting bees are nearby. These small industrious bees have evolved to cut and weave these excised pieces of leaves to make their nest.

Smores are not smores without the marshmallow that holds the treat together. But as with many of our everyday treats, marshmallow’s origin is unfamiliar. But with a name like Marsh Mallow, you have to wonder. And yes, our marshmallow did originate from a concoction made from a relative of our own Saltmarsh Mallow, the bright pink flowers adding color to our tidal marshes in summer.

If you have ever spent time along the edges of tidal marshes during low tide, the waving of claws of fiddler crabs would surely have caught your attention.

One of my favorite native trees is Sourwood – Oxydendrum arboreum. I love them for several traits that make them stand out in our landscape. Although Sourwood can grow to be large trees, many are found in the understory of our forests where they have an arching habit, rather than standing straight

Early summer always brings the fun antics of one of my favorite kinds of insects – June Bugs – more properly known as June Beetles or May Beetles. For most of us, especially in the South, a bug is any kind of insect. For entomologists, like myself, a bug is a member of a different group entirely – but I digress. As for the pronunciation of “bug”, that is another topic altogether and as far as I am concerned, up to the speaker. Cajuns would just say betaille.

Sometimes common names for plants are spot on. Devil’s Walking Stick is just such a well-named plant. Also known as Hercules’ Club, this understory tree sports thorns and spines that are designed to keep animals from eating it – and others from touching it – like us! Apart from its prickly nature, this understory tree has a number of features that make it stand out to those of us that pay close attention to details of plants.

Catching a glimpse of eggs and baby birds in backyard nests is always a treat this time of year. But on occasion, an odd egg may show up that does not match the others. In the eastern U.S. that odd-looking egg was placed there by a Brown-headed Cowbird. Known as a brood parasite, this common native species relies on other birds to incubate and raise their young, often at the expense of their own brood. My good friend John Lipscomb found a cowbird egg in one of his Bluebird boxes and inspired this story.