Monthly Archives: January 2015
Duckweed has many uses but brings many problems
That green stuff all over our still waters is probably not algae like most people think. It’s a floating flowering plant without stems called duckweed (Lemna sp.). Its growth rate can be phenomenal. Under good conditions duckweed can double its … Continue reading
Wetland foraging – River cane is a useful resource
A while ago a gentleman visited me and asked me about useful swamp plants. I realized that I hadn’t given this ecosystem much ink. I’ve written about cattails and alligator weed some time ago, but not much recently. We have two common native species … Continue reading
Sweet nectar from the southern swamps
Some time ago I wrote about black gum (Nyssa sylvatica). This week I’d like to elaborate a little about its swamp dwelling cousin, the water tupelo (Nyssa Aquatica). Along with the bald cypress, it comprises a large volume of the … Continue reading
Tick-trefoil is a wildflower that will stick with you
There’s nothing like a nice brisk walk in the woods and fields in the fall. Leaves have developed their seasonal colors and some of the undergrowth has been singed by frost. Hiking is also more comfortable now that temperatures have … Continue reading
Bedstraw is an interesting and clingy winter weed
Have you ever entered an otherwise empty field in late winter or early spring and left with uninvited sticky stems clinging to your clothes? They are bedstraws and often find you before you find them. They find your pets too. … Continue reading
Where have all the generalists gone?
Centuries ago everyone was a generalist. People had to grow their own food, fix their own tools, doctor their animals and to a large extent, themselves. The industrial revolution changed much of that and urbanization naturally made us more specialized. … Continue reading
Heartworm kills: Test your dog and use preventative medicine
Heartworms are serious and dangerous canine parasites spread by mosquitoes. When these insects bite your dog they can transmit this parasite which can cause suffering and death. These worms travel to the heart and when mature can be a foot … Continue reading
Homemade maple syrup was a great project for my boys
I once owned a farm in West Virginia and in late winter we collected maple sap to make our own syrup. It started as a school project for my oldest son and we continued it. Every morning we visited the … Continue reading
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