Category Archives: foraging
Invasive silk tree
It’s now in full bloom. Some think the flowers are gorgeous and want one in their yard. Maybe if they quit mowing their lawn they’d get their wish. The mimosa is that ‘Dr. Seuss-like’ tree with spreading branches and copious … Continue reading
Dayflower
Walk around the edges of your yard and you might see it. Dayflower is that grass-like weed with the little blue flowers. It finds its way into our flowerbeds and goes unnoticed, hiding itself under the cover of larger plants … Continue reading
Creeping cucumber
Few homeowners know this plant’s name, but many have cursed it. I’ve heard people describe it as that vine with the baby watermelons. Creeping cucumber or Guadeloupe cucumber are two of its most common names. This delicate-looking vine (Melothria pendula) … Continue reading
Wild daylilies
Take a drive down any road right now and you’ll see them. Daylilies (Hemerocallis fulva) are everywhere. Those wild orange ones spread into the ditches and are quite adept at holding the soil and curbing erosion. It’s a shame they … Continue reading
Yarrow – A versatile medicinal herb
A couple weeks ago I wrote a column about Queen Anne’s lace. Someone brought in a sample the other day and inquired if it was the wild carrot or maybe the poisonous water hemlock. I smiled and told her it … Continue reading
Sweet Nectar
Take a walk along the edge of the woods right now and the delightful aroma of honeysuckle will hit you. You might not embrace the sight of those aggressive vines, but the white to yellowish pairs of flowers are striking … Continue reading
Mother’s Day Memories
Timing is the key. Everyone has heard that before. Every place has its treasures, but you must be in the right place at the right time. I love wild greens and I love Maine. It’s where I was born and … Continue reading
Palatable and Poisonous? It’s Pokeweed!
If you like to eat wild foods, this one is ready in the spring. Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is not entirely useless in the fall; it’s just not edible. The poisonous berries make a beautiful magenta colored ink that is somewhat … Continue reading
Queen Anne’s Lace
On roadsides those big clusters of white flowers are starting to appear. If we dug them up we would notice a root that looks a little like and smells exactly like a carrot. There’s good reason for that. Queen Anne’s … Continue reading
Wild Violets
Our lawns are starting to green up well. Troublesome weeds are rearing their ugly heads also. Well, depending upon one’s perspective some are quite attractive. The common violet is a prime example. Those bright bluish-purple flowers and heart-shaped leaves would … Continue reading
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