Musings

Of mysteries and rhubarb

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The mystery plant is back. Is it a jack-in-the-pulpit (briefly: JITP) or not? That’s the way I was leaning last year, but I’m not The Botanist. Note that last year it was at this stage almost a week later than this year. I perceive this as a slightly cooler, much wetter year than last year. Perhaps the more important variable is that the plant is returning this year, and so, as an established plant, is “ahead” of where it was on its first year.

Or not.

I’ve another mystery to comment on. In March, an SGA member asked: who made this brick? I did a simple Internet search and got some idea, but nothing like the whole story. The complex interwoven story is worth a read.

Okay. Now the rhubarb part. I love rhubarb sauce. I don’t think people grow rhubarb around here—possibly it’s too hot—so it’s a bit of a mystery to many Southerners, like my neighbor, an Alabama native. We went on a mission a while back to the State Farmers’ Market and didn’t even find a vendor who knew what it was (not a comprehensive search, however).

However, I recently did find a few stalks in another market, and picked the best specimens to make a rhubarb sauce. To be shared with my neighbor when she gets back from the coast…. Recipe here. It’s quite easy; no muss, no fuss. And yummy!