Monthly Archives: November 2011

The Versatile Sassafras

Posted on November 26, 2011 by tedmanzer

If you’ve strolled around the edge of the woods you’ve encountered a sassafras tree, though it might have been only a seedling.  Unless you knew what you were looking for you probably walked right past without giving it as much … Continue reading →

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Purslane – A Hot Weather Green

Posted on November 25, 2011 by tedmanzer

You’ve probably seen it in your garden when the weather has been so dry that nothing else will grow.  You might even plant one of its cousins in your flower garden. The plant in question is purslane (Portulaca oleracea).  The … Continue reading →

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Persimmons – Sweet Gems of the Fall

Posted on November 25, 2011 by tedmanzer

The persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is one of the true delicacies of the southeastern states.  They grow as far north as southern Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey and west to east Texas and Oklahoma.  We are in the … Continue reading →

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Mulberry – A Healthy Secret

Posted on November 25, 2011 by tedmanzer

They are a fruit few have eaten. The trees are common in our area, but most people don’t know what they are or even what the fruits look like. Mulberries are small trees up to 30 feet tall.  Their leaves … Continue reading →

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More Pesky Vines

Posted on November 25, 2011 by tedmanzer

Kudzu has the reputation for the fastest growing and most aggressive.  Poison ivy is likely the most feared.  A few others deserve merit for most annoying. I bet in the last 20 years I’ve had hundreds of people show me … Continue reading →

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Harvest the Strangler

Posted on November 25, 2011 by tedmanzer

Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) is the single biggest scourge of the southern landscape.  Vines can grow to the top of the tallest trees and head back down again, all in a single season. It can choke out trees and landscaping almost … Continue reading →

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Lambsquarter – A most delicious weed

Posted on November 25, 2011 by tedmanzer

If a plant is growing where we don’t want it we call it a weed.  However, when it makes delicious table fare maybe we should rethink our rules.  Lambsquarter, Chenopodium album, fits the bill perfectly here.  It’s probably my favorite … Continue reading →

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Blueberry – A tasty true berry

Posted on November 25, 2011 by tedmanzer

Last week I mentioned how blackberries really aren’t berries at all.  I know the botanical definition is not important, but for the record blueberries are true berries. Eastern North Carolina is not famous for its wild blueberries, but they can … Continue reading →

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Blackberries – Worth the Scratches

Posted on November 25, 2011 by tedmanzer

It’s almost blackberry season. The thorny canes might scratch the skin off you, but the fruit is worth the effort.  These brambles comprise one of the most confusing genera in the plant kingdom. There are numerous members of the genus … Continue reading →

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A Jewel for Poison Ivy

Posted on November 25, 2011 by tedmanzer

Poison ivy, a ubiquitous woody vine, is responsible for many people avoiding the brushy outdoors.  The culprit is a chemical called urushiol.  The toxin can bind to skin proteins within 15 minutes.  Once that happens, soap and water won’t remove … Continue reading →

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