Raspberry Treat

One interesting thing about the property surrounding the caretaker’s cabin is the variety of edible fruits and berries.  If you have ever walked by during the fall months, you may have noticed that there are 3 persimmon trees scattered along the perimeter of the front yard.  

After the first frost and long after the leaves fall the fruit hangs on the bare branches like tiny orange weights ripe for the picking.  The deer and possums can be spotted nightly gorging themselves on the tart fruit.

Another rare treat which I have yet to learn how to make use of is the fig tree that has been the dominate plant growing just to the left of the cabin’s front door.  Sadly, this past winter’s severe temperatures damaged the tree and it had to be cut back, but new sprouts have sprung and it seems to have recovered nicely.  Perhaps it too will produce fruit again and I can find creative ways to garnish a meal or simply use them as a pizza topping.

In the back yard, there is a cluster of raspberry bushes. I noticed them last year as I mowed around them but never really thought about eating them.  This past week I picked enough to fill a large plastic container and have added them to my morning’s oatmeal.

As I was writing this blog I researched the benefits of raspberries and found that they not only taste great but also offer anti-cancer and anti-aging properties.  What a treat!  And with another birthday bearing down on me at the end of this month, the timing could not be better.  Bon appetit!

Pepe’ Le Pew

I often brag to my friends about the wildlife that I get to see almost daily here at Reflection Riding, especially in the evenings.  Over the past year it’s been interesting to witness the cycle of the critters that come and go with the seasons.

In the winter months the deer are everywhere from dusk till dawn.  The turkeys which feed in the fields during the warmer months and are as common as your suburban neighborhood dogs, seem to disappear into the forest soon after the leaves begin to fall.  The possums, they don’t hibernate, seem to fill a gap in the colder months and are often spotted throughout the reserve darting unconsciously in and out of my car’s headlamps as I drive the loop road.  But it seems that I see them less often now, replaced by the “polecat” or skunks.  Skunks have few predators so most carnivores honor their personal space which is commonly known in the forest as the “10 foot rule”.  Strangely enough, Great Horned Owls which have a poor sense of smell often prey on these unlikely targets.

Skunks are typically nocturnal creatures which forage for insects, worms, eggs and rodents.  From what I’ve witnessed, one of their favorite appetizers are yellow jacket wasps.   The caretaker’s back yard is riddled with small earthy pot holes where the skunks forage for this tasty treat.  I’ve often been awakened by the pungent smell that somehow creeps through the thick log exterior of the caretaker’s cabin.  Albeit part of the cabin’s personality and charm is it’s simplistic and somewhat minimalistic architectural design but it’s quite the rude awakening.

The picture I’ve posted was taken last June in front of the Humphreys House.  Even though the yellow jackets swarmed, determined to drive this young skunk from their nest, the stings could not penetrate the skunk’s coarse fur.  I made this picture using an 80-200mm lens from about 15 feet away.  Close enough to hear the crunching sounds of the defending wasps final defense, but on the outer edge of the skunk’s target range which is reported to be about 10 feet.  Give or take a few inches.