Mayhaw Traditional Cache
Vertighost: Since there has been no response by the cache owner within the time frame requested in the last reviewer note, I have archived this cache. Please note that caches that have been archived for maintenance issues or lack of cache owner communication are not eligible to be unarchived.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Mayhaw is the name given to the fruit of three species of hawthorn that are common in wetlands throughout the southern United States. It is kin to the apple.
Mayhaws grow in moist soil in river and creek bottoms under hardwood trees. The fruit ripens in late April through May, thus the name mayhaw. The fruit is also found in bayous surrounding lakes, such as Caddo Lake on the Texas/Louisiana border. Mayhaws are often collected out of the water from boats to be used to make jelly. Mayhaw jelly is considered by some to be among the finest jellies in the world.
Families used to go on outings to collect mayhaws and create stockpiles of the jelly to last throughout the year, but the tradition has declined as with the increasing urbanization of the South and the destruction of the mayhaw's native habitat. The fruit has also been cultivated to grow outside of wetlands and this is increasingly the source of the jelly. At least one company, Blackburns, in Jefferson, Texas produces the jelly commercially.
As a celebrated delicacy of Southern US cuisine, many communities associate themselves with the fruit: for example, Colquitt, Georgia is considered the Mayhaw capital of the world, and El Dorado, Arkansas celebrates a mayhaw festival each May.
I usually stock up on mayhaw jelly when the family travels through East Texas. A peanut butter and mayhaw jelly sandwich is pure heaven!
The cache is a small screw-on container with several goodies; A small fairy figure, a Texas Lottery scratch-off coin, Mardi Gras beads and a polished stone. It's located where North Braeswood turns to join South Braeswood.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oruvaq gur cvcr, jurer vg tbrf vagb gur tebhaq.