Kings Foil? That's A Weed!

[Mistwalker]

I love living next to 27,000 acres of state forest land, and playing in the weeds.

Since they don't do a lawn service, there are lots of broad leaf weeds like Plantain

Dandelions

Onions and garlic

The cool thing about some weeds is that they are edible. I found myself missing the days when Panera Bread put Dandelion greens and bean sprouts on their sandwiches. I found a good deal of inspiration for future outings today.

We have some large bee flies here. This guy was just over an inch long I think. I was wondering how he would do as fish bait.

This little guy was doing a good job of dodging a good sized ground hornet,

For something that is technically not supposed to be able to fly, these guys fly with some good sized loads...

I'm glad to see these guys coming along too, wine raspberries. The birds have done an awesome job of dispersing the seeds over the years.

Soon these

Will look like these

Another thing I really love about living next to a 27,000 acre forest, is that my yard used to be a part of that forest. It has never had a lawn service either, all I can find all of this stuff literally right outside my back door

.

 

[Scotcha]

Awesome again Brian. Love the pics and the edible weeds. Would be nice if you could make an entire meal foraged from your backyard ( another thread idea ). Edible greens and maybe a rabbit / turkey cooked on a fire.

I have been slowly moving further away from the populated centers and hopefully would be living somewhere like you do in another 10 years.

 

[Chris Larrikin]

You live in a beautiful part of the world. I always enjoy reading about your wanderings

 

[Fiddleback]

Did you eat that pile of salad you collected?

 

[Odaon]

Awesome pictures as usual Brian! I wish I knew of some wild onion and garlic patches near me. I've never been able to find any. One of these days I'll stumble on some...

 

[Mistwalker]

Awesome again Brian. Love the pics and the edible weeds. Would be nice if you could make an entire meal foraged from your backyard ( another thread idea ). Edible greens and maybe a rabbit / turkey cooked on a fire.

I have been slowly moving further away from the populated centers and hopefully would be living somewhere like you do in another 10 years.

Thanks Abe, that was exactly the sort of inspirations I was getting as I worked in the back yard yesterday, and was sorting out where my new fire pit is going to go. Excerpts from "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit" ran through my mind when I spooked a rabbit, and I thought about some garlic and onion seed crusted pan fried blue gill served on a bed of seasoned greens and covered in a glaze made from rose hips and honey. It became hard for me to focus on the yard work

I got over living in large cities early on. When I was dragged from the Tennessee hills and plopped into the alien environment that was North Dallas Texas back in the mid 70s. I like to visit some now and then, and I like photographing city lights at night. But the idea of living in another large city again makes me cringe.

You live in a beautiful part of the world. I always enjoy reading about your wanderings

Thanks Chris. It is beautiful here, I love living here on the mountain.

Did you eat that pile of salad you collected?

Yes and no....the onions went into a bowl of tuna salad, and some of the Dandelion greens went on the sandwiches. The garlic is drying in the kitchen. It turned out I was out of salad dressing, and really didn't have time to go out at the time. Besides I much prefer the plantain greens slow cooked with a little salted pork. But after the discussions with my daughter yesterday I will have to do more with the wild greens soon.

Awesome pictures as usual Brian! I wish I knew of some wild onion and garlic patches near me. I've never been able to find any. One of these days I'll stumble on some...

Thanks man! I am not sure of their dispersion nationally, but they literally grow like weeds in the fields, clearings, and along road sides all over this entire area. The onions come up in the last of winter and flower in mid to late spring. The garlic starts in mid to late spring and finishes up in the summer.

 

[hasco]

Beautiful shots Brian! 27,000 acres? Sounds like you need to have a Fiddleback gathering out there!

 

[Mistwalker]

Beautiful shots Brian! 27,000 acres? Sounds like you need to have a Fiddleback gathering out there!

Thanks Todd! I have considered that. It has been my playground, workshop, and classroom many times over the years. But the logistics of it all gives me pause. Though my Partner may have just landed access to some land we can use for classes that also has a full kitchen, restroom facilities, shelters, and parking, which joins with the much larger Cherokee national forest and several miles of trail loops. All in exchange for workshops a few times a year with high school and college students. It's about forty miles east of here. He is taking me out there next Sunday so that we can check it out together.

 

[Comprehensivist]

Fantastic photos Brian. You have a wonderful gift for capturing spectacular details of nature that most folks overlook.

What's up with your special Handyman? It looks naked without your trademark patina.

Phil

 

[Mistwalker]

Fantastic photos Brian. You have a wonderful gift for capturing spectacular details of nature that most folks overlook.

What's up with your special Handyman? It looks naked without your trademark patina.

Phil

Thank you Phil, glad you enjoyed the post. Take a closer look at the photos, particularly the first one. It is A2 and taken to a higher polish than most of the knives. It was one of the six Andy submitted to the guild so it resists corrosion more than most of my others. But if you look close you will see the rainbow patina that is developing from blood and sauces with steaks, the ingredients in summer sausages, and cutting up various cheeses, and some whittling. You just have to see it at the right angle in the right light

 

[Rookie82]

Great thread, thanks for sharing. I'm glad I found it.

 

[Mistwalker]

Fantastic photos Brian. You have a wonderful gift for capturing spectacular details of nature that most folks overlook.

What's up with your special Handyman? It looks naked without your trademark patina.

Phil

It definitely has a patina going on, sort of nice and rainbow-y, but it's faint and easier seen at some angles than others.

This thing hasn't been safe queened since it has been in my possession, it cut a steak day one, and has cut other snacks and opened packages, cut string etc..

I give it plenty of opportunities to patina

And even try to help it along some

Great thread, thanks for sharing. I'm glad I found it.

Thank you, glad you liked the post.

 

[Gusbuster]

Beautiful pics as usual Brian, thanks for sharing.

 

[Mistwalker]

Beautiful pics as usual Brian, thanks for sharing.

Thanks Gus, glad you liked the post