When we returned to Connecticut after purchasing our new home, we brought along pictures of the new residence—whose most prominent flora were huge banana trees on each corner. What a novelty—banana trees! Not to sound too negative, I have to say that I was not so sure I wanted a banana plantation, but I decided to keep an open mind.
By the time we arrived, the banana trees—now sporting green fruit, ripening, were beginning to turn brown and were not so impressive. Eventually, they yielded to winter—such as it is in Central Texas—and turned completely brown—all 20 feet of them. Cutting down the trees was a challenge; disposing of the remains even more so. Now we were even less enthusiastic about the most prominent feature of our front yard.
What pushed us to a decision to eliminate the banana plantation were several conversations with our neighbors (and the former owner of the house) that turned up the information that several coral snakes had been spotted in our yard and the neighbors’ yards.
Coral snakes are the most poisonous North American reptile. Their unique venom attacks the autonomous nervous system. These small snakes have no fangs, but rather chew their venom into their victim. They move slowly, but most importantly, because they are so beautiful, children are attracted to them. What are coral snakes attracted to? Water—and banana trees are about 90% water. When we cut them down, it was like striking a gusher. Eureka! Perhaps the explanation for the coral snakes was the banana trees, which attracted them.
That did it. It took about four days to dig out the multiple roots of the four stands of banana trees in our yard, but, as of today, they are gone. My fervent hope is that we will see no coral snakes in our yard, and that the neighbors will not either.
By the time we arrived, the banana trees—now sporting green fruit, ripening, were beginning to turn brown and were not so impressive. Eventually, they yielded to winter—such as it is in Central Texas—and turned completely brown—all 20 feet of them. Cutting down the trees was a challenge; disposing of the remains even more so. Now we were even less enthusiastic about the most prominent feature of our front yard.
What pushed us to a decision to eliminate the banana plantation were several conversations with our neighbors (and the former owner of the house) that turned up the information that several coral snakes had been spotted in our yard and the neighbors’ yards.
Coral snakes are the most poisonous North American reptile. Their unique venom attacks the autonomous nervous system. These small snakes have no fangs, but rather chew their venom into their victim. They move slowly, but most importantly, because they are so beautiful, children are attracted to them. What are coral snakes attracted to? Water—and banana trees are about 90% water. When we cut them down, it was like striking a gusher. Eureka! Perhaps the explanation for the coral snakes was the banana trees, which attracted them.
That did it. It took about four days to dig out the multiple roots of the four stands of banana trees in our yard, but, as of today, they are gone. My fervent hope is that we will see no coral snakes in our yard, and that the neighbors will not either.
2 comments:
Banana trees and snakes and deer, oh my!
Every day when my nextdoor neighbor comes home from work, he says, "another day in paradise."
That sums it up!
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