Author: Steve

    It’s such an odd fruit.   It’s about six inches in diameter.   We found some in San Antonio.  It is believed, but not proven, to have insect repellant properties.  The wood of the tree is prized for its strength, flexibility, and stability.  It makes good bows for bows and arrows.  It is resistant to rot, so makes good fence posts.  It is strong and flexible so works well in wooden boat building.   Nobody can figure out how the seeds are propagated though because the fruit oozes a white latex-like liquid that is bitter to plants and animals.  There is speculation that the animals that evolved to spread its seeds are now extinct.  These trees are cultivated and distributed by humans now.  

  Large and loud, they can be surprisingly stealthy.     But not always.    

  An impromptu pond in the agricultural field.     We got to practice our long distance waterfowl and shorebird identification without even leaving our park!         Blue-winged teal Northern shovelers Coots Black-necked stilts American avocets Least sandpipers Long-billed dowitchers (or stilt sandpipers; I can’t tell from that distance) Lesser yellowlegs Snowy egrets Little blue heron  

    Surprise!  

  Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge.       To complete the picture, you’ll need to bring up a certain amount of heat, humidity, loud insects, and sweat in your imagination.