We Take a Lot of Things for Granted, Like Hedges!

We drive past them day after day, without noticing them. We plant them for privacy, wind breaks and decoration, but do we really look at them? I doubt it.

With my trusty rescue pup by my side, my walking speed is full of starts and stops so I have time to really examine the natural resources around us, while she does her sniffing and choosing the perfect place to, well, spritz. I’ve noticed cardinals for the first time, lots of mockingbirds mocking our staccato progress, the cawing of errant crows and craziest of all, feathers. There’s hardly a time when Miley and I are walking that there isn’t a perfect specimen of a feather just begging to be collected so we do, er, I do. 

With observation time that depends on the speed of my four-legged companion, I’ve taken the opportunity to really look around and observe the local beauty which changes faster than you can imagine. One day the streets are dry, the next they’re flooded, and detours out into the traffic path are necessary to avoid wading in ankle deep rain water. The nests of the burrowing owls are vacant, sadly. They’re an important part of our walk and my photographic inspiration, but I’m hopeful that they will return next Spring and produce another generation of the cutest owls ever. The population of burrowing owls is growing on Isles of Capri and I believe it’s because of the community’s heightened awareness and appreciation of their needs and the lack of disturbance of the nests.

I’ve walked through a small park on the Isles for several months and have watched the vibrant, green heart-shaped Sea Grape tree leaves transform into fall colors, fall off the trees, produce glossy, new baby leaves and put out long strings of miniscule, new, green round leaves that eventually transform into larger, longer strings of green orbs. Who knew that such a transformation took place under my very unsuspecting, unobservant eyes?

Here’s what I’ve learned about these strings of little green globules. They are nicknamed green caviar because of their oceanic taste and can be used in soups, salads, and rice, especially with East Asian food. Full disclosure, I haven’t had the courage to try them, but I hear the little balls burst in your mouth in a most interesting way and they offer health benefits.

The more I observe the Sea Grapes, the more I learn. Here’s another interesting fact that I uncovered. The tiny globes enlarge and turn from green to pale pink to purple as the fall progresses. When there are more purple “grapes” they are ready to be harvested and transformed into Sea Grape jelly. As you run your hand through the cluster of grapes, the purple ones should come off easily into your hand or bowl standing by. I found recipes for Sea Grape jelly, which is highly prized in other Florida coastal communities, such as Sarasota and Venice, where it’s quite common, but it could be more commonly produced here with the prolific Sea Grape trees we have.

There is another hedge, the Cocoplum, which I’ve noticed during our daily walks, which grows prolifically. It can get scraggly and needs trimming to keep it tamed. When I looked more closely at this hedge, wonder of wonders, there was a fruit on it that looked like a purple plum, hence the name. There is a Red Tip Cocoplum that is more salt tolerant, and I suspect that’s the one that is more prevalent in coastal Collier County. But here’s the amazing fact I discovered - the “plum” is edible! What are the chances I would have discovered these two hedges without walking my precious pooch? 

When we drive, do we really notice the special details of nature around us? I notice sunrises, sunsets, storms, and clouds, but they are hard to ignore in their grandeur. I notice the beautiful planting in my neighbor’s gardens and the TLC devoted to keeping our island pristine and free of trash and the ambiance of our four outstanding restaurants with their warm greetings to patrons and scrumptious food. True, my dog hasn’t been a part of some of those, but I appreciate taking the time to stop and appreciate my surroundings, even “hedges,” with her by my side.