[Magdalen] Plain Speech.--cat-tails

[Lynn Ronkainen]

David S>> In the process of this swale-surgery, the several little stretches 
of
>> "cat-tails" were also removed.  This is too bad, because I always  loved
>> the cat-tails, even in the winter when all you saw was a golden brown
>> patch of long leaves.


Most places where cat-tails grow are considered 'wetlands' these days and 
are often protected by local or state ordinances... unless, of course, you 
live in the big TX ; (   where developers who buy land with 'wetlands 
(swamps), develop the dry land and then contrive to let the swamp dry up 
then... unless someone blows them in - more building : (


Lynn, also a cat-tail lover and remember being  completely intrigued when in 
Girl Scouts at all the things you can do with cat tails including eating the 
root and stem!


My email has changed to: houstonKLR at gmail.com

website: www.ichthysdesigns.com

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not a 
single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." 
attributed to Erma Bombeck

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Sibyl Smirl" <polycarpa3 at ckt.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2015 10:09 PM
To: <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Subject: Re: [Magdalen] Plain Speech.--cat-tails

> Cat-tails are very valuable plants, for quite a number of reasons.  I 
> "have" some that I value as individuals, in a small "creek" (I think it 
> was once one, by the lay of the land) that became a drainage ditch for the 
> railroad embankment.  The railroad, which was a spur line for a town depot 
> and the grain elevator, is gone now.  They took up the rails a few years 
> ago: I would assume that the rails were sold as recycling for steel, 
> though I don't know--our steel industry is so far gone, maybe they were 
> shipped to China or something.  At least the Railroad found it worthwhile 
> to take them up and move them out.  I don't think anybody will find it 
> worthwhile to destroy the cat-tails for "beautification", though: we 
> aren't that fancy.
>
> On 5/30/15 12:26 PM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Being a native Midwesterner (USA), I'm fond of plain speech:  calling  a
>> spade a spade.
>>
>> I thus have a combination of irritation and amusement at my 
>> development's
>> habit of referring to what I would call the roadside ditch, a "swale" 
>> which
>> they apparently think is fancier than, "ditch".
>>
>> The authorities here are fixated on keeping "the swales" clear and 
>> clean,
>> and there was yet another general notice to this effect in the mail
>> yesterday.
>>
>> Actually, my swales were widened and deepened several years ago
>> along with all those on this street, and then lined with stone.  This 
>> was
>> not asked for or really needed, but it does look good.
>>
>> In the process of this swale-surgery, the several little stretches of
>> "cat-tails" were also removed.  This is too bad, because I always  loved
>> the cat-tails, even in the winter when all you saw was a golden brown
>> patch of long leaves.
>>
>> You can't fight city hall.
>>
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typha
>
>
> -- 
> Sibyl Smirl
> I will take no bull from your house!  Psalms 50:9a
> mailto:polycarpa3 at ckt.net