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Tag Archives: foraging
Chocolate Vine
Woody climbing vines get a bad name for their invasiveness and ability to cover desirable landscaping. They do have their niche though. Chocolate vine is an aggressive climber and can provide a dense screen in just a few years. It … Continue reading
Posted in foraging
Tagged Akebia quinata, chocolate vine, climbing vine, edible, foraging, invasive, nature
35 Comments
Rosemary – A shrub of many uses
There is probably not a more versatile plant in our landscape than rosemary. It makes a great hedge, tolerates salt spray, dry sandy soils, smells great, has medicinal properties and is a tasty spice. This fragrant shrub lends itself to … Continue reading
Chaste Tree
In northern climates lilac makes a beautiful large shrub to small tree. It has showy cone-like fragrant inflorescences in spring. Lilac struggles in our climate but we have a great alternative in Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus). Also called chaste tree it … Continue reading
Posted in foraging
Tagged aromatic herb, berries, BPH, Chaste tree, fertility, foraging, medicinal, menopause, Monk's pepper, nature, progesterone-estrogen balance, Vitex, Vitex agnus castus, woman's herb
34 Comments
Goldenrod
When I was a kid my father told me that once the goldenrod bloomed summer was over. I always associated goldenrod with the start of school. In general this is true, but the genus Solidago has over a hundred species … Continue reading
More blue for our future?
Right now it’s not one of the more common roadside plants in eastern Carolina. That might change in the next few years. If you take a drive north or west for any distance you’ll begin to see more of it. … Continue reading
Posted in foraging
Tagged chicory, coffee additive, coffee substitute, endive, foraging, medicinal, nature, perennial, roadside weed, succory, wildlife food
23 Comments
Rose Mallow
Check out the sunny wet areas along our roadsides and you can’t miss them. This early July heat is speeding their maturity, but they look like they are hanging tough. Huge white or pink blooms now adorn our landscape. Individual … Continue reading
Posted in foraging
Tagged butterflies, foraging, hummingbirds, nature, perennial hibiscus, Rose mallow, wet areas, wild cotton
26 Comments
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
Posted in foraging
Tagged alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, antibacterial, blue flowers, commelin, Commelina, dayflower, edible, foraging, nature, sore throat, styptic, tonsillitis, wandering jew
14 Comments
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
Posted in foraging
Tagged creeping cucumber, edible, foraging, herbaceous vine, invasive weed, little watermelons
21 Comments
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
Posted in foraging
Tagged adaptable, cold hardy, daylily, erosion control, folded leaves, foraging, hemerocallis fulva, invasive, nature, tepals, tuberous roots
19 Comments
