A Little Herb Lore & Other Scenes From A Temperate Rain Forest

[Mistwalker]

The green is back completely now, and spring will soon give way to summer. I needed to capture some images for a project I am working on, and so I thought I would share some shots that go into herb lore and some other images of spring in a temperate rain forest.

One of the plants I was seeking was Solomon's Seal. It is a rather unique plant that stands out from most of the others it is commonly found growing with.

The flowers hang below the arched plant, but sometimes the bees will help you find it.

The flowers soon become berries. Do not eat them, they are toxic

It's the root I am after. Minced and crushed, and made into a poultice it is used as an astringent to slow bleeding and help heal minor wounds.

It helps to have something to dig with, but I didn't bring anything. So...I had to whittle a digging stick

The roots can be pretty long, so if you cut it on a node before the end, another plant will sprout from that node.

Then cut it behind a node just away from the plant stem and you have a section of the root.

If you then replant the root with the stem, if all goes well, next season you will have two plants from one., thus sustaining growth of a medicinal herb.

The garlic is also up good. I love garlic, it's good for your heart, and helps keep the mosquitoes at bay as well. This is another you usually have to dig. Pulling usually just breaks the stem.

Lots of sassafras here, makes a nice tea. It's pretty easy to identify, with a mix of single, tri-lobe, and mitten shaped leaves.

The poison ivy is flowering and will soon start producing berries.

A lot of color after the lifelessness of winter.

A huge insect population here in the warm months

Looking forward to blackberry season!

These guys are usually pretty chilled out, but I'd advise not making them feel like they need to call for reinforcements

I go hiking by myself a lot, but with all of the eyes in the forest, I never feel lonely.

.

 

[JD Mandrell]

Amazing shots!

 

[Codger_64]

I miss my spring sassafras and poke. Very nice photography. Thank you.

 

[willseeyalater]

Sassafras...designed by a committee of three if your theology is trinitarian.

 

[Mistwalker]

Amazing shots!

Thanks man! Glad you liked them

I miss my spring sassafras and poke. Very nice photography. Thank you.

Not much of it up there in the Rockies I'm guessing? You're welcome. Would it be illegal to mail someone sassafras root inside the US? I love sassafras tea. I like poke salad, but it's one I do not go into with students, only long time friends who are around long enough to get into more advanced studies. There is just too much risk involved, and I'm not so sure there isn't some sort of regional or genetic immunity built up over generations of family use the way their is with some cultures and dairy products. So I just don't go there...

Sassafras...designed by a committee of three if your theology is trinitarian.

Looking at it, I can see how that thought would arise.

 

[Codger_64]

...Not much of it up there in the Rockies I'm guessing? You're welcome. Would it be illegal to mail someone sassafras root inside the US? I love sassafras tea. I like poke salad, but it's one I do not go into with students, only long time friends who are around long enough to get into more advanced studies. There is just too much risk involved, and I'm not so sure there isn't some sort of regional or genetic immunity built up over generations of family use the way their is with some cultures and dairy products. So I just don't go there...

Nope, not that I have found in my short time here. And I sent Sass root to Canada once and I won't repeat that mistake. The Queen was not amused. They do have a prohibition on the stuff I found out. As far as I know it is legal in the US to mail dried root or root bark.

As to poke, I grew up with it and proper harvest and use isn't complicated. But I guess I am preaching to the choir in telling you that. And I can understand why you wouldn't introduce it to students who would only remember the part, "you can eat this". Where and when I grew up spring gathering of poke salet was something every granny's chile knew and looked forward to. I could 'splain it to folks here if there is interest.

So far I haven't made much progress on identifying spring wild edibles here. Though I know the Blackfoot, Bannock and other tribes found naturally growing food all around.

 

[Mistwalker]

Yes, I had one interesting experience sending an item into another country. A mistake I won't make again. PM me and let me know your preferences and I can put a care package together for you the way you want it.

Yes, that's my fear exactly. That any particulars would be lost and only the fact that it could be eaten remembered. Just too much risk and too much responsibility for me to deal with on a personal level, regardless of the release forms that have to be signed. It's almost as bad as a certain nightshade, that was used centuries ago as an anesthetic for amputations, which could possibly (and surprisingly to most people) have a beneficial aspect in a total societal melt down or "zombie apocalypse". However with some of the horror stories from it being misused, the risks just too great to teach that type of subject matter.

As much as you like the outdoors, I'm sure you'll learn what there is to learn over time

 

[Codger_64]

The risk with poke is way overblown by those with no familiarity, IMHO. But for now we'll leave it at that. It is very high in vitamin A. And much of the cooking advice, though not stated as such, is intended to reduce the content of that vitamin. Using my preferred harvest method, I only parboil lightly once before cooking as either boiled greens or as greasy greens served with hoe cakes. Here it would no doubt be considered an invasive species so I wouldn't attempt to import it. Sassafras root is a different matter and I prize the tender green leaves for my creole cooking (it is the file' in gumbo file'). Of course, according to Canada and some other sources, sass is bad for you too.

I have spied plenty of native willow trees and now some birch. Over the years I came to know that the willow was the "headache" tree. The tender green with bark contains the active ingredient in aspirin. And the uses of birch bark are numerous. Camas root and cattails abound though I've never tried them as food. And lordy the variety of berries. Some good and some not so much. I need to learn them before the late spring and summer berry season appears. I am on the Western edge of the Carbou-Targahe Forest in the foothills of the Tetons and make trips over the divide to West Yellowstone and to Jackson Hole. And down to Salt Lake. So the topography is quite varied and likewise the plant life. Sand dunes, high desert, lava fields, tight mountain passes, lush valleys and aspen forests. An alien world compared to where I grew up and lived most of my life.

 

[Mistwalker]

I agree, but it is a sue-happy world we live in, I prefer to not take the chances...

Yeah, Michigan winter before last was an alien world for me, so I know the feeling. But hey, sweet edible berries are awesome!