Grazing wild peppers!

Having never seen wild peppers grazing in the grass, I could not resist taking a picture. Lucky for me, I had my handy camera phone in my pocket. Wild peppers are very rare. Unfortunately, they are prone to attack by larger animals. Dogs are a natural enemy and have been known to snatch them as they feed on the delicate grasslands of north Texas.

The wild peppers pictured were part of a wonderful "show" during a chili cook-off this weekend. Longjohn Chili is an imaginative new chili team. Their show includes: a display in the grass of animals made from long green peppers, carrots, mushrooms, and other assorted vegetables; jars of "moonshine" with various vegetables colorfully being "pickled" in the juice, also scattered in the grass; various odds and ends on tables that I didn't get a close look at due to the wild peppers nearby; and creative costuming that includes, of course, red longjohns. I'd wish them luck in the show competitions but 1) they won't need luck and 2) I'm competing against them and know I will always be in their shadow when they are near, not a bad place for a shadylady though....