Few people visit Apollo County Park, and that's exactly the reason you ought to see it. The hike is quiet; few people visit because of its remote location and lack of amenities. But it's also a rather strenuous hike up and down the hills and creek beds.
There's plenty to see. Colors are electric now. Maples are a deep cranberry, oaks bright yellow. Poke berry plants are wilting because of the colder temperatures, but provide food for birds, some migrating through the area.
And the berries give color too, even in the rain drops that drip off the plant. Shoot toward the light, which will show off the purple color of the berry's juice.
When we moved into our home about three years ago, we had a forest of poke berry plants under an evergreen tree, and we've been trying to eliminate the pests ever since. Since birds eat the berries, and then deposit the seeds, it's a fight we're probably not going to win.
Poke berry is an interesting plant. On different web sites, you'll find people promoting its use as an arthritis cure when made into wine. Or in the southern states, poke sallet is a delicacy. But on nearly every site, warnings tell about the toxicity of the plant-- from the root, stalk, leaves and berries. The effects of eating raw poke berry are gut-wrenchingly painful.
Says TexasEscapes.com-- "My momma told me you had to cook poke sallet three times or you were liable to get poisoned," said Marie. "I'm not sure that's right, but I'm not about to take a chance."
Makes sense. If it's that toxic, why bother?
Years ago during an interview about her humble roots, Dolly Parton talked about poke sallet, spelling it correctly and commenting that some folks think it is spelled "polk salad". She was generally regarded as a dumb blonde for making that remark.... dumb blonde, indeed, laughing all the way to the bank.
Interesting stuff, eh? Reading about it, I found it spelled polk, poke, salad, sallet... So, being my favorite southern belle, have you tried what has been called a 'southern delicacy'?