what’s growing?
Is anyone else in awe that this is our winter?
I have been feeling the bubbling of spring. In the crisp mornings I feel winter’s presence, while the afternoons turn to spring- everywhere I look things are blooming & growing. The full moon as the sun sets reminds me once again, to rest- winter is still here.
Be patient for spring.
On my neighborhood & forest plant walks I find myself thinking of the quote by Lao Tzu a lot lately-
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished”
When you revisit plants on your walks they become like neighbors, like kin. These plants have stories and the more you visit your plant friends- the more you can see what is changing and shifting for them, and around them.
It is like a beautiful dance to learn to tune into your surroundings like this.
I think with practice we can all nurture this innate skill.
Noticing and listening.
So with all of my noticing & listening lately- I admire all of the medicinal flora that is in season right now.
So here’s what I am seeing all over town:
-common mallow (malva naglecta)
-milk thistle (silybum marianum)
-plantain (plantago major)
-wild radish (raphanus raphanistrum)
-chickweed (stellaria media)
-cleavers (galium aparine)
-native & non-native blackberry
(rubus ursinus)
(rubus armeniacus)
-mugwort (artemisia vulgaris)
-lemon balm (melissa officinalis)
-curly dock (rumex crispus)
-yarrow (achellia millefolium)
-milky oats & oat straw (avena sativa)
-nasturtium (tropaeolum)
-borage (borago officinalis)
-calendula (calendula officinalis)
-magnolia (magnolia L.)
I am also seeing lots of baby shiny poison oak pop up, as well as poison hemlock. So keep your eyes peeled when moving around in nature and always use at least 3 identifying sources when foraging plants.
Especially, as you are getting started. It takes sometime for pattern recognition to kick in when learning to identify plants.
Keep practicing!
Identification recommendation: “Botany in a day” by Thomas J. Elpel
Activity: If you feel interested, take sometime getting to know this list. Looking at 3 different sources for each plant and getting inquistive.
Who knows? You may just recognize a new friend on your next stroll.
