Category Archives: foraging
Alligatorweed
Alligator weed: Kudzu of the Waterways Alligator weed (Alternanthera philixeroides) is an invasive exotic menace. It was first introduced to this country about a hundred years ago from South America in ballast water from ships. Many exotic species have spread … Continue reading
Wild Mint
Too much of a good thing? There are few things more satisfying on a hot summer day than a tall glass of iced tea with mint. If you’ve ever feasted on a thick slice of lamb roast with a generous … Continue reading
Hairy Bittercress – A Treat
Hairy Bittercress – A Delightful Misnomer As far as I’m concerned, hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) is neither hairy nor bitter. While the leaves have a slight pubescence (you need a hand lens to see it) it is certainly not objectionable … Continue reading
Florida Betony
Florida Betony – If you can’t beat it, eat it Sometimes the battle can seem hopeless. Florida Betony (Stachys floridana) is a highly invasive cool season weed. To make matters worse the square-stemmed devil is a member of the mint … Continue reading
Love of Foraging
Collecting and utilizing items from the wild has long been a hobby and passion of mine. I have been extremely fortunate to have many outstanding teachers. First on the list would have to be my father, Dr. Frank Manzer, a … Continue reading
Nature’s Aspirin
Nature’s Aspirin I enjoy harvesting plants from the wild and we have numerous useful plants. Black Willow (Salix nigra) is our most common willow species. Willows are one of the most common trees used in making baskets, because the stems … Continue reading
Sweet Birch
Mountain Medicine Do we have any wintergreen lovers out there? For years nearly all wintergreen flavoring was extracted from sweet birch trees (Betula lenta). Some people call them black birch, spice birch, cherry birch, or mahogany birch. Birch beer soda … Continue reading
Nature’s Rewards Column – Squirrels are no dummies
Squirrels are no dummies My students have been studying wildlife management in my Natural Resources class, and the other day I summoned the kids outside to see who could find a pecan to eat. There is a large tree behind … Continue reading
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