A Natural Privacy Hedge Out Back

At the southernmost border of our property on our little 5 acre homestead is a fence that we put up on our property line.  It keeps the animals in and hopefully keeps critters out that have an appetite for chickens.  There is a little patch of woods behind the property line.  During the spring and summer, even though it is not my property, I like to keep a 96 inch mowed strip to separate the fence (our land) from the "jungle."

Don't get me wrong, I like the "jungle."  It is shady and cool, providing an overhang onto our property that the cows, goats, and chickens enjoy - especially during the summer.  As I walked along the fence line today, bringing a bucket of water to the pullets in the chicken tractor, my nose picked up a familiar, sweet scent.  The smell was that of the blooms of Chinese Privet.

Privet

Chinese privet is in the Ligustrum family.  THIS ARTICLE tells us that this plant was brought over to the US in 1852 as an ornamental shrub and, like other things (nutria!), escaped and became an invasive species, taking over the understory in many Louisiana forests and across the south.  Its presence has been documented in every Louisiana parish.  It thrives in the shade and grows so quickly you can almost watch it increase in size as it expands its scope.  I will need to mow the little boundary strip quickly to stop its encroachment onto our land.

It makes beautiful, fragrant white flowers that fill the spring air with sweet fragrance.  That's one positive feature, I guess, but many are allergic to it.  After the blooms fade a small purple-black fruit appears that birds eat.  Another positive is that it serves as a great privacy hedge.  I can remember as a young boy making many forts and camps amidst the branches of sprawling privet and wax myrtle trees.  I can also remember not so good memories about the privet. The leaves of the branches can be stripped off, leaving a switch that whirs through the air and can be used to introduce discipline to an unruly boy's rear end.  As a recipient of such instruction, I can testify to the efficacy the privet switch as a tool to bring about sudden attitude adjustment!

Privet Blooms

In reading a little more about Chinese Privet HERE, I learned that it is used as an herbal medicine by boiling and making tea to treat diarrhea, stomach ulcers, bowel problems, chapped lips, and sore throats.  The leaves and bark can be boiled to make a tea to help chemotherapy patients regain their appetites - although it is very bitter.  I guess the thought is if you drink it, the taste is so bad, you'll want to eat something to get the taste out of your mouth!  Good to know that the privacy hedge out back also is a pharmacy should we ever need it.