tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85271331226465730442024-03-13T14:36:42.703-04:00Our Green NeighborsA blog celebrating plants both wild and cultivated with a special focus on plants that have been or are still "useful" to humans. These useful plants may include vegetables, medicinal herbs, and more. Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-81896492366487185202022-03-17T16:49:00.000-04:002022-03-17T16:49:01.977-04:00The Secret Sauce<p>Taking photographs of plants is a hobby decades in the making for me. Thousands of plant images every year. And there is one thing that all the photos I love best have in common. "What is that secret sauce?" you say. In truth, it is nothing. Sure, there is a good composition, ample lighting, and a steady hand. But pictures I <i>don't</i> love can have that too. All the good ones have nothing from me in them. I was the conduit, but it is all about letting the plants speak for themselves. No fancy filters or crazy photoshop techniques can do as much as stepping back and letting the plant speak for itself. They all have their own beauty and stories to tell. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCFg-sX_cQP21HFDthbaUzgwL__bcL4f9Bnd8i-wMy4cvCbI2SKonPcwheY5t50U8roYQEbWxtliCOu8cWho-uc90f47cJCb_EjGtL2lUpJo7IgvRRS_UIwwEVqzlaUOgL-BtjO18kMIxGPkaE_h-xTTkkmb36URc5PU9fHaEaIIkYD3tFK94f2dN4=s1000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Wintergreen" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCFg-sX_cQP21HFDthbaUzgwL__bcL4f9Bnd8i-wMy4cvCbI2SKonPcwheY5t50U8roYQEbWxtliCOu8cWho-uc90f47cJCb_EjGtL2lUpJo7IgvRRS_UIwwEVqzlaUOgL-BtjO18kMIxGPkaE_h-xTTkkmb36URc5PU9fHaEaIIkYD3tFK94f2dN4=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wintergreen in a mossy bed in a beech grove</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8JHLTnx4w5m1FB_bdJhy1GoErYnjcHgTeyEE6cuWh4CJrWRbqJv3Vb7JJMd9TPEa1vF1tGLTf6Pjj8peydKVFjqGiUIvjvtqSdcKDHfJzHWRpxF4czKZ4UpQ0S_mqVv9B9fsQ_3dmN3ovP6pyfraNFSXNAt6p3EpAxvtinjC5JVV0O_vTe7il7ic2=s1000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="wild strawberry" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8JHLTnx4w5m1FB_bdJhy1GoErYnjcHgTeyEE6cuWh4CJrWRbqJv3Vb7JJMd9TPEa1vF1tGLTf6Pjj8peydKVFjqGiUIvjvtqSdcKDHfJzHWRpxF4czKZ4UpQ0S_mqVv9B9fsQ_3dmN3ovP6pyfraNFSXNAt6p3EpAxvtinjC5JVV0O_vTe7il7ic2=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild strawberry along a woodland trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p> </p>Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-222201621540507552020-12-30T19:40:00.004-05:002020-12-30T19:43:06.828-05:00Water for a thirsty man in the desert<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkvwXGMN-jw/X-0bFhXzK0I/AAAAAAAADSo/ucGOBOAARqcZdsD598loDVVvSE6PKAnKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/HedgeRow.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hedge Row" border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkvwXGMN-jw/X-0bFhXzK0I/AAAAAAAADSo/ucGOBOAARqcZdsD598loDVVvSE6PKAnKQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/HedgeRow.jpg" title="Hedge Row" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hedge row</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This fall, inspired by videos of people starting trees from seed I collected a bucket full of acorns from the "mighty" oak that is in an old fence line hedgerow in the field behind us. The fence line has obviously existed for some time and remnants of three different type of fencing materials can be found - stone, wire, and wood. For this collection work, I used one of my favorite foraging/harvesting tools -- a $0.99 plastic children's sand pail. With an hour's worth of work, I was able to collect most of a bucket's worth of acorns. <p></p><p>I figure this tree is an exceptional source for seed as it grows in a tiny sliver of wild between two farm fields and those fields have been badly abused by 100+ years of broken agricultural practices. The soil in those fields is spent and crops only grow with chemicals. It took me 15 years of letting the ground lay fallow just to be able to support tree growth in the land I have that used to be part of these fields. So if this oak, the mother/hub tree of this area, has survived and thrived in spite of that, it hopefully will provide some nice local genotype stock to add to my young food forest plantings. </p><p><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6n02wtSEdE/X-0bV0s7_AI/AAAAAAAADSw/b2VOMslboXwawN8Nj9dag-5xCu6alpKuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/MightyOak.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="My "mighty oak"" border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6n02wtSEdE/X-0bV0s7_AI/AAAAAAAADSw/b2VOMslboXwawN8Nj9dag-5xCu6alpKuQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/MightyOak.jpg" title="My "mighty oak"" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My "Mighty Oak"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>So with a 5 galleon bucket full of water, I separated the bad from good seed. The bad ones float. I lost two-thirds to three-quarters of the seed that I harvested. And the water showed why, bugs. Lots of acorn eating larvae floated up with the water. I never imagined I would end up with so few acorns left. But regardless, I sowed some in pots to let the winter do her germination magic and will move any spouted seeds to larger containers come spring. I also scattered some in the wild areas to let the acorns sprout and grow all on their own.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5lJintiamiE/X-0cJhlCUHI/AAAAAAAADS8/VuEO-I_8d90sDUbEeFdyR8K6K3WFwkv7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/AcornHarvest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5lJintiamiE/X-0cJhlCUHI/AAAAAAAADS8/VuEO-I_8d90sDUbEeFdyR8K6K3WFwkv7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AcornHarvest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gdlihBhl0no/X-0cOmi8oRI/AAAAAAAADTA/0EhH_h2ufo4F0EeXdL3i99hPS6_VtWFiACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/AfterSorting.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gdlihBhl0no/X-0cOmi8oRI/AAAAAAAADTA/0EhH_h2ufo4F0EeXdL3i99hPS6_VtWFiACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/AfterSorting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top: My acorn harvest<br />Bottom: How few acorns passed the sink test</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><p></p><p>Not long after this, I visited a local nature center with healthy and strong forest areas of pines, oaks, beeches, and more. On a whim, I collected 2 handfuls of acorns from underfoot on the trails. When I soaked them in water to separate out the bad from the good, I got completely different results. I ended up with somewhere between one-fifth and one-tenth loss. </p><p>After considering the results for a while, it became clear why I saw such different experiences. The oak behind my house is one of only a couple of acorn producing trees in the that hedgerow. Whereas the nature center has many, many such trees. "My" tree is supporting more than its fair share of native fauna life and is in a sense to those creatures, like a glass of water for a man in the desert dying of thirst. If you can, plant oaks as they are powerhouses of support for our native animal life. See writings by Doug Tallamy to learn about just how critical they are. </p><p>And I will let you know come spring time how my acorn germination project has fared.</p><p>Some additional photos:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXJ9n3fVNWk/X-0c7agsf7I/AAAAAAAADTg/sm9MbMeqIK8GWSMh2JjVUsXj0nJdPJEewCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/OakGall.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Oak Gall" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vXJ9n3fVNWk/X-0c7agsf7I/AAAAAAAADTg/sm9MbMeqIK8GWSMh2JjVUsXj0nJdPJEewCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/OakGall.jpg" title="Oak Gall" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An oak gall - a small insect grows inside of these on oak trees</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lovkFGi4Qak/X-0c5AjQlbI/AAAAAAAADTQ/kSoeBabtRQwPu7sP-n2v0e3eO5rwvt5OQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/OakLeaves.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Oak leaves & acorn" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lovkFGi4Qak/X-0c5AjQlbI/AAAAAAAADTQ/kSoeBabtRQwPu7sP-n2v0e3eO5rwvt5OQCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/OakLeaves.jpg" title="Oak leaves & acorn" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acorns and leaves of my "mighty" tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4h7b4Ms0Xs/X-0c5o_eZwI/AAAAAAAADTU/7E7OhTb-dT4F0c1I1JtBiu5pmZ458JsogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/OldFenceline.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Old fence line" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z4h7b4Ms0Xs/X-0c5o_eZwI/AAAAAAAADTU/7E7OhTb-dT4F0c1I1JtBiu5pmZ458JsogCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/OldFenceline.jpg" title="Old fence line" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What lies at the oak's feet - old fence line materials</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrvcasoE-Gk/X-0c7ADyFpI/AAAAAAAADTY/ShnYxCdJ-zY2aciV7lgGfagcn2p5d9xAACLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/SortedAcorns.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sorted acorns" border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrvcasoE-Gk/X-0c7ADyFpI/AAAAAAAADTY/ShnYxCdJ-zY2aciV7lgGfagcn2p5d9xAACLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/SortedAcorns.jpg" title="Sorted acorns" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The few good acorns after sorting</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Orkjr-c2KLw/X-0c7e7SAjI/AAAAAAAADTc/yrNOmU8zfkclJeAi8soeXhZHLT0oWTbgQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/TurkeyTail.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Turkey tail fungi" border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Orkjr-c2KLw/X-0c7e7SAjI/AAAAAAAADTc/yrNOmU8zfkclJeAi8soeXhZHLT0oWTbgQCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h240/TurkeyTail.jpg" title="Turkey tail fungi" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey tail fungi growing under the oak's canopy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p>Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-90413118189494986242020-11-09T21:46:00.004-05:002020-11-09T21:46:55.452-05:00Good Gardeners Kill Plants<p>I once read a gardening article about all the plants killed by "good" gardeners. It seems like a counter intuitive statement on the surface but the author went on to talk about these gardeners taking chances and learning the right conditions that plants need experientially. So yes, while they do kill a number of things while getting it right, they are in a constant discovery and analysis mode that better serves them than overly cautious and only sure-fire success plantings. Few gardening tips and articles that I have read over the years have stayed with me as much as the message of this article -- which I interpret as having a willingness to take chances -- because it perfectly marries one of my longest held garden philosophies. I believe the garden is a rare and glorious thing in life because it is a place of endless second chances.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qjwrU9vQn-o/X6n9BR4XLWI/AAAAAAAADQs/ULP0IzJyfIQYqGy_2no-I0KFjHnQaNZ0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/DSCN7903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ginseng seeds" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qjwrU9vQn-o/X6n9BR4XLWI/AAAAAAAADQs/ULP0IzJyfIQYqGy_2no-I0KFjHnQaNZ0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/DSCN7903.jpg" title="Ginseng seeds" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My prize of ginseng seeds</td></tr></tbody></table><p>So, with an idea of possible successes and failures firmly in my heart, I set off on an afternoon of seed planting. I recently got an awesome member deal on American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) seed from <a href="https://unitedplantsavers.org/" target="_blank">United Plant Savers</a>. Members could get ~400 seeds for $15. How could I not take advantage of that. Now, I've tried planting ginseng seed before and that resulted in an utter failure with 0% germination. But what I did that time was pick what I thought would be the optimal location and planted all the seed in that location. I didn't do that this time. I roamed all over my 8+ acres and planted the seeds in what I thought may be viable locations, 40 different locations. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-51-pkcqxQ94/X6n90Xi1l5I/AAAAAAAADQ4/R0FY9x5Y8k47aYhIV3utq_Y0QHGATZhRACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/DSCN7909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Planting Location" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-51-pkcqxQ94/X6n90Xi1l5I/AAAAAAAADQ4/R0FY9x5Y8k47aYhIV3utq_Y0QHGATZhRACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/DSCN7909.jpg" title="Planting Location" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many planting locations</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Will they all grow? Absolutely not. But will I strike upon the right location? That is my fervent hope. Did I make notation of all the sites? Oh goodness, no. I don't operate in that manner plus that afternoon with its freeform planting was just as enjoyable as the possibility of seeing that seed surprising me in a few years with a full grown ginseng plant. </p><p>So my suggestion?? Take chances. Learn from both your successes and failures. And if need be, try again.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-10096654922719557112020-09-30T18:21:00.002-04:002020-09-30T18:21:57.348-04:00Responsibilities<p style="text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qA82lDb0s3w/X3UEaPZO63I/AAAAAAAADP4/11sumT_QgTIUMuGPJJji5Y-oW2F03uxdACLcBGAsYHQ/s800/DSCN7356.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Monarch Butterfly on Goldenrod" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qA82lDb0s3w/X3UEaPZO63I/AAAAAAAADP4/11sumT_QgTIUMuGPJJji5Y-oW2F03uxdACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/DSCN7356.jpg" title="Monarch Butterfly on Goldenrod" width="400" /></a></i></div><i><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i> “The findings of contemporary astrophysics suggest that we might do well to settle ourselves imaginatively into an endlessly transforming universe without fixed beginning or end. Chemistry, microbiology, and behavioral sciences confirm a fundamental kinship extending from the earth itself through all living things, from the tiniest bacteria to the largest blue whale. The recent discovery of possible bacteria on rocks from Mars may reveal that such kinship extends throughout the solar system – and much further. Our deepening awareness of the impermanence of even the most solid and stable-seeming structures – mountains, seas, the atmosphere, the countless, wheeling galaxies – has become poignant. Human life, indeed, all life, can now be seen as more interconnected, and simultaneously more fragile, than past generations of Western thinkers could concede. In the ongoing effort to gain moral control over our own relentless defensive and economic drives – including learning to control our own masterworks of impermanence: our nuclear weapons – we must now struggle with spiritual responsibilities to the earth and all its future generations, nonhuman as well as human.” </i></div></i><p></p><p>-- Rafe Martin, “<i><b>The Hungry Tigress</b></i>”</p><p></p>Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-68052309798154873502020-08-25T01:06:00.000-04:002020-08-25T01:06:05.098-04:00Friends with Benefits<p>I have grown Elecampane, <i>Inula helenium</i>, for years but never realized until this summer that Elecampane had a special relationship with ants. While the buds were getting fat and preparing to bloom, they were guarded by a swarm of ants. "<i>Ants???</i>," you say. "<i>Most definitely</i>," says I. And while I could not find a specific reference to Elecampane having these special structures, the presence of the ants tells me it is there - <b><i>extrafloral nectaries</i></b>. Extrafloral nectaries are special nectar producing glands located outside of the flower and unlike the nectar produced in flowers, this nectar has nothing to do with pollination and reproduction. In fact, it is to entice bodyguards who help discourage herbivores.</p><p>Peonies are very common plants to see this mutually beneficial plant - ant relationship on. You do not to spray the ants off your peonies or Elecampane with water or any bug repellents because the plant has put out a place setting for its ant friends and will only benefit from their presence.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cg4BPJDvrpI/X0SblHeCQ5I/AAAAAAAADOM/BjmY7ML_cgQ3C6c6CMmX26YKGslA8SzGgCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/DSCN7120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Elecampane - ant relationship" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cg4BPJDvrpI/X0SblHeCQ5I/AAAAAAAADOM/BjmY7ML_cgQ3C6c6CMmX26YKGslA8SzGgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/DSCN7120.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-45911087744104055262020-08-14T20:55:00.004-04:002020-08-14T20:55:28.174-04:00The Gift Not Intended<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">So a bit of a story. Probably about 10-12 years ago, I had collected some black walnuts in the fall. It wasn't tons...maybe a gallon or so of nuts from some wild trees. At the time I was doing an annual presentation to local fourth graders on wild foods and medicines as part of their "pioneer day" activities. I had quite the road show and was always looking for more things for the kids to see and touch - like these black walnuts.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 6px 0px;">I was always amazed<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"> at how disconnected so many kids were with the natural world around them and so I did my best to introduce them to as much as possible in my 45 minutes with each class which included at least 20 minutes of letting them explore everything I brought on their own. This included a foraging game I made up which was always one of the highlights. While many probably forgot what they saw the moment they walked out the door, it made all the work so worthwhile to see the "lights" turn on for some of the children as to what amazing things were right out their own backdoors.</span></p><div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><p style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 6px;">So I stored the nuts but like many older homes (and mine is 160 years old), rodents are a continual issue and they got into the nuts. I pitched the nuts out to the compost bin. "Critters" enjoy my open compost bins and it seems one of them planted one of the walnuts near the foundation of my house -- there are no nearby black walnuts and this is the only time these nuts made it to the compost bin so it didn't take much thought to figure out its origin.</p><p style="font-family: inherit; margin: 6px 0px;">Some time along the way, my husband or I chopped the seedling down at least once as the trunk bears the evidence. But last year it finally dawned on me what the tree was. So I dug it up in this spring, potted it, and will add it to my ever expanding young food forest this fall.</p><p style="font-family: inherit; margin: 6px 0px;">So while I never shared the nuts in my wild plant extravaganza, I did get a tree I always wanted out of it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VR78bQItx1I/XzcyWnBz2HI/AAAAAAAADN4/Ad6v4KlYjscdVWCRsrWDkz6i_wHKqqo7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s800/DSCN7330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VR78bQItx1I/XzcyWnBz2HI/AAAAAAAADN4/Ad6v4KlYjscdVWCRsrWDkz6i_wHKqqo7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/DSCN7330.jpg" /></a></div><p style="font-family: inherit; margin: 6px 0px;"><br /></p></div>Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-68868309970565069812020-08-10T11:15:00.001-04:002020-08-10T11:15:19.991-04:00A Rare Find (Repost)<p> This is a copy of a blog post I made on another, now defunct, blog in 2010. I am posting it here so as not to loose this wonderful info.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>A couple of weeks ago while hiking at Letchworth State Park, I came across a rare find. Nestled between stands of spotted jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and pale jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) I came across a jewelweed plant the likes of which I had not seen before. </p><p>This plant looked like spotted jewelweed in the shape of the flowers and the leaves but it had white flowers with red spots. I've never in all my stomping about in wild places or perusing through various field guides trying to ID wild plants seen one like this. </p><p>After some investigation, I believe it is one of two very uncommon variants of the spotted jewelweed: Impatiens capensis forma albiflora (white flowers with red spots) or Impatiens capensis forma Pease (white flowers with larger red spots/splotches). These variants are referenced here in a NYFA Newsletter if you wish to read more.</p><p>It was very late in the day and the light was low so these pictures are not my best but hopefully you'll be able to see and enjoy this rare beauty as well!</p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDC04ZXvc7I/XzFkLkNFynI/AAAAAAAADNY/ka7ihF-YI3U3cMxVhqU7bLPd9CSL_Lm6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/touchmenot1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDC04ZXvc7I/XzFkLkNFynI/AAAAAAAADNY/ka7ihF-YI3U3cMxVhqU7bLPd9CSL_Lm6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/touchmenot1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AydVOoWfO2M/XzFkLoh4_sI/AAAAAAAADNU/gF1LIN9X_wEpIxUh-5cVOfo_GJ7pv6mVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/touchmenot2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AydVOoWfO2M/XzFkLoh4_sI/AAAAAAAADNU/gF1LIN9X_wEpIxUh-5cVOfo_GJ7pv6mVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/touchmenot2.jpg" /></a></div><p> </p>Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-80669395843531051972016-06-21T21:13:00.000-04:002016-06-21T21:13:40.430-04:00The Healing Power of the Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Loss and grief, like a freight train has barreled into my life. Though well-meaning, tears fall at the simple phrase, "how are you doing?" How to fill those first few days? We found our way to places of meaning. Places he wanted to go when he got better. Places we went together as a family and enjoyed. Happier times, happier memories that we are able to touch upon.<br />
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One of those places he most wanted to go was a place of natural beauty - green woodland, streams, and the shore of a fresh water lake. He didn't get there but we did. We hiked a gorge along its stream bed to the waterfall. Some conversion but largely quiet and mediative.<br />
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Native woodland plants graced the woodland edges. Wild strawberry, wild ginger, jack-in-the-pulpit, blue cohosh, stone root, and more. Stress and loss melted away. The most peace I had found in days found me in that walk.<br />
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After the walk, the kids and I both found the beach. They swam and played in the sand. I found another area to sit beside the lake. To "sit by the lake" here was one of his top goals so I did it for him. A peaceful sleep stole in on me. When the kids were ready to go, they woke a very relaxed me.<br />
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Each day more reports of the physical and mental health benefits of a walk through the green are published and shared. But sometimes it is the spirit, which cannot be quantified in scientific studies, that most needs that time with the natural world for it can bring peace and solace to a broken heart, even if only for a time. And in my case, that healing green power was combined with a place that was meaningful to the person now gone, transforming it to a touchstone to shared and happier times.<br />
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<br />Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-2902949023840276782015-11-20T21:36:00.001-05:002015-11-20T21:36:26.077-05:00Special and Unique Places: The Bog<div>
There are few places that offer a more unique glimpse into the natural world than a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog" target="_blank">bog</a>. It is a pocket of conditions as well as flora and fauna that are completely different than the surrounding locale. I am fortunate to have visited a local bog on a few occasions which is not only a protected botanical preserve but it has also been designated as <a href="http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/" target="_blank">National Natural Landmark</a> by the National Park Service. This place, <a href="https://thezurichbog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Zurich Bog</a>, is located in Arcadia, New York. It is off the beaten trail to be sure, but the trip is worth it to see such a place of unique beauty. </div>
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The Zurich Bog preserve encompasses hiking trails through a bog forest and a peat bog. There is a floating bog, a mat of vegetation over a pond, but access onto the floating bog is generally not permitted nor entirely safe.<br />
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The pictures below are only a few of the species seen there.</div>
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<i><b>If you are a gardener please take note</b>, such special places are threatened by the harvesting of the peat moss for the gardening industry. Even this protected location is threatened by the draining of water in order to harvest peat that goes on outside of the preserve. If these places are special to you as well, please choose soil mixes without peat in them. <a href="http://gardenrant.com/2009/04/ken-druse-dishes-the-dirt-about-peat-moss.html" target="_blank">Read more about why to use no peat here.</a></i></div>
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<b><u>Here are photos from the Zurich Bog Preserve. Click on any of the images to see a larger view.</u></b><br />
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Grass Pink Orchid (Calopogon pulchellus)</div>
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Tamarack (Larix laricina)<br />
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Northern Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea). Last image is the pitcher plant bloom.<br />
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White Fringed Orchid (Platanthera blephariglottis)<br />
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Spoonleaf Sundew (Drosera intermedia)<br />
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Goldthread (Coptis trifolia). Second photo also includes starflower (Trientalis borealis) and Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense).</div>
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Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)<br />
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Club Moss (Lycopodium sp.). Second picture also includes goldthread (Coptis trifolia), partridge berry (Mitchella repens), and hemlock (Tsuga sp.).<br />
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Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens)<br />
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Starflower (Trientalis borealis)<br />
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Bog Rosemary (Andromeda polifolia)<br />
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Indian Cucumber (Medeola virginiana)<br />
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Labrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum)<br />
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Links:</div>
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<a href="http://www.bergenswamp.org/" target="_blank">The Bergen Swamp Preservation Society</a></div>
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<a href="https://thezurichbog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Zurich Bog</a></div>
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Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-28345379913676403042015-08-13T18:35:00.001-04:002015-08-13T18:39:29.002-04:00Being Kind to Wild NeighborsWhile out snapping some pictures of awesome clouds and sunset, I spotted a small bee already slowed by the cooling temperatures atop some Queen Anne's Lace (aka wild carrot). In these days when pollinators are so challenged for survival, letting some of your space be filled with flowering plants whether they be wild or cultivated varieties in gardens can only help them and in the long run, our planet. Refrain from using pesticides and herbicides to make your space an oasis for you and your wild neighbors.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0by86nEoZ9o/Vc0bG6zc0kI/AAAAAAAAC6w/_vIiv8uRPzk/s1600/Cloud.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Clouds" border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0by86nEoZ9o/Vc0bG6zc0kI/AAAAAAAAC6w/_vIiv8uRPzk/s320/Cloud.JPG" title="Clouds" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spectacular Clouds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSaP3m1L1hY/Vc0bMIoyOWI/AAAAAAAAC7A/DqLURQuSzHs/s1600/QueenAnnesLace-Bee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bee on Queen Anne's Lace" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSaP3m1L1hY/Vc0bMIoyOWI/AAAAAAAAC7A/DqLURQuSzHs/s320/QueenAnnesLace-Bee.JPG" title="Bee on Queen Anne's Lace" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bee on Queen Anne's Lace</td></tr>
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<br />Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-33180683403384522572015-05-03T13:56:00.000-04:002015-05-03T13:56:26.890-04:00Early Spring WildflowersI love early spring wildflowers. But you must be vigilant in looking for them. If you blink with some (like the Twinleaf) you will miss them entirely. The twinleaf flowers last less than a day once they open. By nighttime, the petals have dropped. Here are a few from my woodland garden this spring.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sp9Gdkxgt2U/VUZf54IozzI/AAAAAAAACu0/FOs8_g6el1M/s1600/Bloodroot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bloodroot" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sp9Gdkxgt2U/VUZf54IozzI/AAAAAAAACu0/FOs8_g6el1M/s1600/Bloodroot.JPG" height="300" title="Bloodroot" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloodroot, <i>Sanguinaria canadensis</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1mFQcGGmTo/VUZf5hjsMGI/AAAAAAAACus/1Jn8_HPNFwY/s1600/CelandinePoppy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Celandine Poppy" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1mFQcGGmTo/VUZf5hjsMGI/AAAAAAAACus/1Jn8_HPNFwY/s1600/CelandinePoppy.JPG" height="400" title="Celandine Poppy" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celandine Poppy, <i>Stylophorum diphyllum</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mloLxEJCTu4/VUZf6Oo4_KI/AAAAAAAACu8/3uQyD-xUVAw/s1600/TwinLeaf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Twinleaf" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mloLxEJCTu4/VUZf6Oo4_KI/AAAAAAAACu8/3uQyD-xUVAw/s1600/TwinLeaf.JPG" height="300" title="Twinleaf" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twinleaf, <i>Jeffersonia diphylla</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PfHUYZRkBUE/VUZf53InXOI/AAAAAAAACu4/M5KSQoSo564/s1600/SquirrelCorn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Squirrel Corn" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PfHUYZRkBUE/VUZf53InXOI/AAAAAAAACu4/M5KSQoSo564/s1600/SquirrelCorn.JPG" height="400" title="Squirrel Corn" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squirrel Corn, <i>Dicentra canadensis</i></td></tr>
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<br />Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-42447090072413694532015-02-24T15:36:00.000-05:002015-02-24T15:36:23.509-05:00Flowers & Grey Skies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sonnenberg.org/store.asp?pid=33330" target="_blank"><img alt="Sonnenberg Orchid Show" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cQEG82B1qDg/VOzRNJdbLUI/AAAAAAAAClg/_F68ZOo_I1c/s1600/OrchidBorder-Bottom.jpg" height="148" title="Sonnenberg Orchid Show" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do not think it is any wonder why flower and garden shows are this time of the year. "Plant people" and everybody else all get "itchy" to see green again. Doubly so this year. This winter has been long, cold, and snowy. It is sad when you long for a 30 degree F day because it will seem balmy and tropical in comparison to what you have been experiencing. But spring will come - it always does. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But in the mean time, visit your local flower and garden shows. They will give you that pick me up until the real thing, Spring that is, arrives.</span></div>
Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-8138521046594448522015-01-13T10:23:00.000-05:002015-01-13T10:28:07.123-05:00Herb of the Week: Agave<strong>Agave americana</strong><br />
<strong>Agave, Century Plant, Maguey</strong><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L09XLtPbick/VLUxMbWiYVI/AAAAAAAACi0/sCno9sAFd8Y/s1600/agave2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L09XLtPbick/VLUxMbWiYVI/AAAAAAAACi0/sCno9sAFd8Y/s1600/agave2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
It is odd given my lifelong interest in both plants and nearly every art and craft known to man that I haven't done more in harvesting and creating botanical-based dyes and fibers. But after taking a workshop a few years back that focused on Native American cord and rope making, I like to occasionally try making cords from scratch - all the way from harvesting the raw plant materials. Last year I had the opportunity to work with fibers from an Agave americana plant. <br />
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I was inspired by a YouTube video linked in the <strong>Learn More</strong> section below. It shows a Kichwa man harvesting fibers from agave. He is a master and makes it look easy. I assure you, I struggled and took far more than the 7 minutes he did in the video! But thankfully, I did my homework and did more research than watching one YouTube video. It seems the sap from A. americana can cause contact dermatitis. In fact the horror stories of people who took chainsaws to such plants abound. So I took precautions and wore rubber gloves during my fiber harvesting. Unfortunately I got some fresh sap (unbeknownst to me) on my sleeves and when I hiked up the sleeves, I ended up with that dermatitis. Not fun!<br />
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See the pictures below for the story of how I make rope from this plant.<br />
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<strong>Learn More:</strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Agave+americana" target="_blank">Plants for a Future: Agave americana</a></strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_americana" target="_blank">Wikipedia: Agave americana</a></strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55351/#b" target="_blank">Dave's Garden: Agave americana</a></strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://youtu.be/doqLNmiL8Eg" target="_blank">YouTube: Indigenous people of Ecuador harvesting agave fibers</a></strong><br />
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<strong>Agave Rope Making:</strong><br />
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This is the agave plant. See detail of spiny leaf tip. These pretty blue-green leaves also sport sharp thorns along the leaves. (Plant location: <a href="http://www.sonnenberg.org/" target="_blank">Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Qor8ZDN3GY/VLUxK6OyrwI/AAAAAAAACig/xbWkA-5TTN4/s1600/agave1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Qor8ZDN3GY/VLUxK6OyrwI/AAAAAAAACig/xbWkA-5TTN4/s1600/agave1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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After some scraping away of the fresh plant material, the long white fibers can be seen in the leaves. The fibers and their arrangement can also be seen in the cut edge of the leaf. Agave is an exceptional fiber plant.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x3lkXmrJ9Hc/VLUxOrMmtII/AAAAAAAACi8/2tm8HAWho-o/s1600/agave3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x3lkXmrJ9Hc/VLUxOrMmtII/AAAAAAAACi8/2tm8HAWho-o/s1600/agave3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i5wLZbP8DtA/VLUxOYJybbI/AAAAAAAACi4/syLwMfLPpUA/s1600/agave4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i5wLZbP8DtA/VLUxOYJybbI/AAAAAAAACi4/syLwMfLPpUA/s1600/agave4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NU9ZtuojZZw/VLUxKNOYlKI/AAAAAAAACiY/XJINHbpXmR8/s1600/agave10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NU9ZtuojZZw/VLUxKNOYlKI/AAAAAAAACiY/XJINHbpXmR8/s1600/agave10.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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After the bulk of the fleshy, soft plant material was scrapped away, I left the fibers to dry. After drying I found the fibers far too "prickly" and suspected that the oxalate crystals (which cause the dermatitis) were still too present. So I decided that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retting" target="_blank">retting</a> may make the fibers more friendly to the touch. After a few weeks, I found the fibers better to work with. Below are some finished, ready to be worked fibers.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pb02BCQ0bZ0/VLUxP8Nv-QI/AAAAAAAACjI/pUxAykPL4n0/s1600/agave5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pb02BCQ0bZ0/VLUxP8Nv-QI/AAAAAAAACjI/pUxAykPL4n0/s1600/agave5.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44BdeYb26SE/VLUxSlmL5CI/AAAAAAAACjo/jT_Ek-1hEC8/s1600/agave9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44BdeYb26SE/VLUxSlmL5CI/AAAAAAAACjo/jT_Ek-1hEC8/s1600/agave9.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now for the fun part, making the cord. I used an S-twist or two-ply style. (Want to try it? <a href="http://www.primitiveways.com/cordage.html" target="_blank">See directions here.</a>) You can twist it with your fingers or by rolling on your knee. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qoAimOYuvDA/VLUxQNCc7oI/AAAAAAAACjM/zu3F2k403Cc/s1600/agave7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qoAimOYuvDA/VLUxQNCc7oI/AAAAAAAACjM/zu3F2k403Cc/s1600/agave7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finished cord! Like to get an idea as to what this fiber is like? Sisal ropes are made from another species of agave (Agave sisalana) and should be relatively easy to find.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IdjB7485-Q8/VLUxRBuk5aI/AAAAAAAACjY/xrRmrPvBDUo/s1600/agave6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IdjB7485-Q8/VLUxRBuk5aI/AAAAAAAACjY/xrRmrPvBDUo/s1600/agave6.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-58047092192590007742014-06-04T08:20:00.000-04:002014-06-04T08:38:23.848-04:00Herb of the Week: Fringe Tree<i><b>Chionanthus virginicus</b></i><br />
<b>Fringe Tree, Old Man's Beard, White Fringe Tree</b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pEadkTEzjkg/U48OX0gKTEI/AAAAAAAACXY/b48EH5h4l9Q/s1600/fringetree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Chionanthus virginicus, Fringe tree" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pEadkTEzjkg/U48OX0gKTEI/AAAAAAAACXY/b48EH5h4l9Q/s1600/fringetree.jpg" height="320" title="Chionanthus virginicus, Fringe tree" width="240" /></a></div>
The Fringe Tree is thought by some to be one of the prettiest trees native to North America. In late spring this small tree is covered in white blossoms that have long dangling petals - its "fringe." Hardy to zone 5, the fringe tree's <a href="http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=chvi3" target="_blank">native range</a> is the south-eastern US from NY to Florida and as far west as Texas. This pest-free tree will grow in full-sun or partial shade. The attractive leaves are ovate and yellow in the fall. The fringe tree is dioecious and the female plants produce purple drupes that resemble olives.<br />
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Over the years I have added many native plants to my gardens and landscaping. Even more so when they offer up both beauty and herbal use like the fringe tree. Six to eight years ago, I added a tiny little foot tall fringe tree seedling. It barely grew the first couple of years, often coming back so slowly in the spring I doubted it made the winter. While its growth has been slow in my cold and moist climate at the edge of its northern range, over the last couple of years it has finally put on some size and extra branches. This spring, after the coldest and hardest winter in decades, it gifted me with blossoms - the first since I planted it. (See picture above.) While I only have one cluster of flowers this year, I look forward to even more in future years!<br />
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The fringe tree -- like so many native plants -- were originally part of various Native people's medicine traditions which were later adopted by white herbalists and healers into their own herbal practices. Traditionally the fringe tree root bark has been used for liver and gall bladder disorders as well as wounds and rheumatism. For more on fringe tree's uses, see <a href="http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Chionanthus+virginicus" target="_blank">PFAF's entry on it</a> or <i style="font-weight: bold;">Peterson's Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants</i> by Foster & Duke.<br />
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<b>Learn more: </b><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chionanthus_virginicus" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chionanthus_virginicus</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Chionanthus+virginicus">http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Chionanthus+virginicus</a><br />
<a href="http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CHVI3">http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CHVI3</a><br />
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<b>Looking to add this tree to your place?</b> Try <a href="http://www.forestfarm.com/product.php?id=1200" target="_blank">Forest Farm</a> like I did.<br />
<br />Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-91049837323505017502014-04-28T18:52:00.000-04:002014-04-28T18:52:04.651-04:00Hot Stuff in the Greenhouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S9Yezweo51s/U17Zz1XOL7I/AAAAAAAACXE/kujhSUphsoo/s1600/Philodendron-bipinnatifidum-Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Tree Philodendron" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S9Yezweo51s/U17Zz1XOL7I/AAAAAAAACXE/kujhSUphsoo/s1600/Philodendron-bipinnatifidum-Flower.jpg" height="320" title="Tree Philodendron" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S9Yezweo51s/U17Zz1XOL7I/AAAAAAAACXE/kujhSUphsoo/s1600/Philodendron-bipinnatifidum-Flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Be sure to check out my new article on Sonnenberg Garden's <a href="http://strollthroughsonnenberg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Strolling Through Sonnenberg blog</a>.<br />
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It is about a plant world oddity that can be seen in bloom in the tropical plant collection in Sonnenberg's greenhouses. The strangeness is not so much in the fact that the plant is blooming, but in the characteristics that this plant, the tree philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum), exhibits in its flowers.<br />
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Article:<br />
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<a href="http://strollthroughsonnenberg.blogspot.com/2014/04/things-are-heating-up-in-greenhouse.html" target="_blank">Things are Heating Up in the Greenhouse</a>Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-28158667816126979932014-04-23T15:08:00.000-04:002014-04-23T15:55:23.261-04:00Herb of the Week: Blue CohoshI feel a day is wasted unless you have learned <i>something</i> new. It doesn't have to be a huge thing, just something <i>new</i>. After taking a recent hike to snap some spring wildflower pictures, I found out that new thing for the day. During the hike I saw some blue cohosh that had just sprouted up and was in flower (see picture below). It sported deep maroon flowers rather than the light green ones I was used too. I snapped some pictures and looked it up when I got back. This is when I learned that new thing.<br />
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I never realized there was more than one species of blue cohosh but it seems there are two. The maroon flowers were an indication of Northern Blue Cohosh (<i>Caulophyllum giganteum) </i>whereas the species I was more familiar with, <i>Caulophyllum thalictroides</i>, has more numerous, light green flowers.<br />
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Both plants overlay much of the same native range though <i>C. thalictroides </i>ranges a little farther south and west than its sister species. (See <a href="http://plants.usda.gov/" target="_blank">http://plants.usda.gov</a> for range details.) As for how to tell which species it is other than by its flower? Well, <i>C. giganteum </i>blooms 10-15 days earlier and has larger and less pinnately divided leaves than <i>C. thalictroides. </i>Exact differences according to <a href="https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/caulophyllum/giganteum/?key=dichotomous#dkey" target="_blank">one source</a> were:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The two species differ somewhat vegetatively. The ultimate leaf segments of C. giganteum are 5–10 cm long and first leaf is 2- or, more commonly, 3-times pinnately divided. The ultimate leaf segments of C. thalictroides are 3–8 cm long and the first leaf is 3- or, more commonly, 4-times pinnately divided.</blockquote>
It was a good day for something new indeed!<br />
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<b>Northern Blue Cohosh (<i>Caulophyllum giganteum) </i>in flower:</b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XsawsstoCc/U1gNC5WgeEI/AAAAAAAACUI/dN-F7ZS3wZk/s1600/bluecohosh-maroonflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Northern Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum) in flower" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XsawsstoCc/U1gNC5WgeEI/AAAAAAAACUI/dN-F7ZS3wZk/s1600/bluecohosh-maroonflowers.jpg" height="320" title="Northern Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum) in flower" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Blue Cohosh (<i>Caulophyllum thalictroides)</i> in flower:</b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sx2Bx6WBkVI/U1gNB7cShlI/AAAAAAAACUQ/9odM_Q7Kv1g/s1600/bluecohosh-greenflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) in flower" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sx2Bx6WBkVI/U1gNB7cShlI/AAAAAAAACUQ/9odM_Q7Kv1g/s1600/bluecohosh-greenflowers.jpg" height="320" title="Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) in flower" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Blue Cohosh foliage:</b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dbZdsbLSWNk/U1gNCq--UKI/AAAAAAAACUM/ABlad3i9Xlw/s1600/bluecohosh-leaves2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blue Cohosh" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dbZdsbLSWNk/U1gNCq--UKI/AAAAAAAACUM/ABlad3i9Xlw/s1600/bluecohosh-leaves2.jpg" height="320" title="Blue Cohosh" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Blue Cohosh fruits (green) early/midsummer:</b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w6Z_5Lp2QiU/U1gNB6dGX4I/AAAAAAAACUY/9gLhkTLTXeU/s1600/bluecohosh-greenberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blue Cohosh fruits (green) early/midsummer" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w6Z_5Lp2QiU/U1gNB6dGX4I/AAAAAAAACUY/9gLhkTLTXeU/s1600/bluecohosh-greenberries.jpg" height="320" title="Blue Cohosh fruits (green) early/midsummer" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b>Blue Cohosh fruits (ripe) late summer:</b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-57dtp3SX4HI/U1gNB6fpu-I/AAAAAAAACT8/USOTUwLZqrs/s1600/bluecohosh-blueberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blue Cohosh fruits (ripe) late summer" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-57dtp3SX4HI/U1gNB6fpu-I/AAAAAAAACT8/USOTUwLZqrs/s1600/bluecohosh-blueberries.jpg" height="320" title="Blue Cohosh fruits (ripe) late summer" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-21660370769139202232014-04-14T16:12:00.000-04:002014-04-14T16:13:35.307-04:00Has Spring Sprung Yet?Bloodroot is one of my spring favorites but I haven't spied yet, but my pussy willow, coltsfoot, and crocus are blooming. I guess I will have to keep my eyes open!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LBdvxh0TzEM/U0xAe6nVwlI/AAAAAAAACTI/T1A9A1sO-Jw/s1600/Bloodroot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LBdvxh0TzEM/U0xAe6nVwlI/AAAAAAAACTI/T1A9A1sO-Jw/s1600/Bloodroot.JPG" title="Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis" /></a></div>
<br />Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-43643918966334480412014-03-17T20:58:00.002-04:002014-03-17T21:02:54.095-04:00Seeds?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_tvZIEMg7c/UyeZudhrQoI/AAAAAAAACQs/CDbo0gjFOIY/s1600/yellow-tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Heirloom Tomatoes" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_tvZIEMg7c/UyeZudhrQoI/AAAAAAAACQs/CDbo0gjFOIY/s1600/yellow-tomatoes.jpg" height="320" title="Heirloom Tomatoes" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heirloom Tomatoes grown from seed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Recently I was asked for where I buy my seeds from for my vegetable garden. I end up getting them from a lot of different places including local home & garden shops. Why so many? Mostly because each vendor has their own specialty varieties. But here are some of my favorite seed sources - I hope you enjoy them too!<br />
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<ul>
<li>Horizon Herbs <a href="http://www.horizonherbs.com/" target="_blank">http://www.horizonherbs.com</a></li>
<li>Baker Creek Seeds <a href="http://rareseeds.com/" target="_blank">http://rareseeds.com</a></li>
<li>Richters Herbs <a href="http://www.richters.com/" target="_blank">http://www.richters.com</a></li>
<li>Territorial Seeds <a href="http://www.territorialseed.com/" target="_blank">http://www.territorialseed.com</a></li>
<li>Seeds of Change <a href="http://www.seedsofchange.com/" target="_blank">http://www.seedsofchange.com</a></li>
<li>Totally Tomatoes <a href="http://www.totallytomato.com/" target="_blank">http://www.totallytomato.com</a></li>
<li>Pinetree Seeds <a href="http://superseeds.com/" target="_blank">http://superseeds.com</a></li>
<li>Thompson & Morgan <a href="http://www.thompson-morgan.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thompson-morgan.com</a></li>
<li>Seed Savers <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/">http://www.seedsavers.org</a></li>
<li>Terrior Seeds <a href="http://www.underwoodgardens.com/" target="_blank">http://www.underwoodgardens.com/</a></li>
<li>Sample Seed Shop <a href="http://www.sampleseeds.com/" target="_blank">http://www.sampleseeds.com/ </a></li>
<li>Johnny's Selected Seeds <a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/" target="_blank">http://www.johnnyseeds.com/</a></li>
</ul>
Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-19566995553786838822014-03-10T15:34:00.000-04:002014-03-10T15:34:22.586-04:00Keep Calm and Think SpringRecently I saw an image that said, "Keep Calm and Think Spring." After the long and cold winter it has been, I think we are all beginning to think spring. Actually, it is probably more than just thinking of spring. It is <b><i>needing</i></b> spring. As such, we begin to look for those harbingers of spring -- and we all have specific ones we look for.<br />
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When I think of early spring, I begin to think of certain flowers blooming and certain animals making their appearance. Last spring I wrote about <a href="http://ourgreenneighbors.blogspot.com/2013/03/signs-of-spring.html">Turkey Vultures making their spring return appearance</a>. On another blog, I've also written about <a href="http://ganondagan.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-do-you-see-signs.html" target="_blank">Pussy Willows Blooming</a>, <a href="http://ganondagan.blogspot.com/2010/04/spring-ephemerals-at-ganondagan.html" target="_blank">Seeing Spring Ephemerals</a>, and <a href="http://ganondagan.blogspot.com/2011/04/signs-of-spring.html" target="_blank">other signs of spring</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9faplvA5DU8/Ux4RJejDZeI/AAAAAAAACQI/xyrnrpuTlUg/s1600/lily-of-the-valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Lily-of-the-valley" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9faplvA5DU8/Ux4RJejDZeI/AAAAAAAACQI/xyrnrpuTlUg/s1600/lily-of-the-valley.jpg" height="400" title="Lily-of-the-valley" width="300" /></a></div>
But today, I'm thinking about the late spring sights. I guess I'm tired of winter's browns and grays and need that emerald green of verdant May. So what do I think of in bloom come mid to late May? Many things to be sure! But today the mid to late spring sight that is on my mind is the Lily-of-the-Valley. Give them a shady spot, and they will fill the area with their tulip-like leaves and racemes of tiny bell-like flowers. The best part of these flowers, is their scent. It is heavenly and rich and it always reminds me of being a kid for my mom had these in her gardens. I loved picking a few to make a tiny bouquet for her. She had a special little bud vase for such tiny bouquets. Despite their petite size, these bouquets would perfume a room.<br />
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A few lily-of-the-valley tips:<br />
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<ul>
<li>They do spread via rhizome so take care of placement for they will crowd out other plants, weeds and other flowers alike. Can be a blessing and a curse so add wisely. </li>
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<li>Unlike many shade loving plants, these plants can tolerate a dry shade. In shady areas near your house's foundation, downspouts, under bushes, etc. where little else can grow, these plants can survive and thrive.</li>
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<li>All parts of these plants including the red berry-like fruits are highly poisonous. The plant has at least <a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/28967/how-poisonous-lily-valley" target="_blank">40 different cardiac glycosides</a>. As you can guess, those compounds are not so good for the healthy heart.<br /><br />If you are worried about young children and poisonous plants, then skip this one. But as I've said before, you should be <a href="http://ourgreenneighbors.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-teaching-plant.html" target="_blank">teaching your young children plant safety</a>! I was picking bouquets of these when I was 4-5 years old for my mom. I didn't get poisoned for at that tender age I had already learned plant safety from my mom. In fact, she made sure to specifically tell us about lily-of-the-valley's poisonous nature. Don't dumb down things for your kids. Treat them like the intelligent, responsible people you want them to be. And <b><i>always</i></b> make a good hand-washing when coming in from outdoors a requirement like my mom did. </li>
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<li>With their tiny bells they make a great fairy garden plant.</li>
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<li>The scent is intoxicating that no fake, store-bought lily-of-the-valley fragrance can compare to. If you have scent or moonlight garden, this is a must.</li>
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<li>I like the standard white variety best, but other cultivars are available including double and pink flowers plus variegated foliage.</li>
</ul>
Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-38711569785016158122014-02-15T17:20:00.000-05:002014-02-15T17:20:07.536-05:00Do You Know the Quince?Quince trees used to be common place. They are easy to grow and produce wonderful pink blossoms that turn into delicious yellow fruit. Oh yes, they are delicious but they require cooking before eating. Here's an <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/quince/">article</a> with some quince recipe links to get you started. And the fruit is also wonderfully high in <a href="http://urbanschmurban.com/2012/10/08/in-season-quince-making-your-own-pectin/">natural pectin</a> making it a perfect addition to any homemade preserves.<br />
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But to get you appreciating the beauty of this tree, here are some pictures of the blooms and its fruit. If looking for this variety, it is a Russian variety named, "Aromatnaya."<br />
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<b>Buds just opening </b>- Notice the large green sepals? They make the blooms look very rose-like.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4-x2KPiH3I/Uv_jMGy5VNI/AAAAAAAACPU/OHhSSXk1TLo/s1600/quince1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Quince flower buds" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4-x2KPiH3I/Uv_jMGy5VNI/AAAAAAAACPU/OHhSSXk1TLo/s1600/quince1.jpg" height="400" title="" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quince flower buds</td></tr>
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<b>Fully open blooms - </b>The picture doesn't do the blooms justice. They are more pink and rose-like in appearance. The leaves have a silver fuzz to them. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9j4r1anVi70/Uv_lkagvQ2I/AAAAAAAACPg/d0L8dYN09Rk/s1600/quince2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Quince blossoms" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9j4r1anVi70/Uv_lkagvQ2I/AAAAAAAACPg/d0L8dYN09Rk/s1600/quince2.jpg" height="300" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quince blossoms</td></tr>
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<b>Immature fruit </b>- The young fruit still bear the green sepals that were so prominent on the blooms. The fruit already has its distinctive yellow color. The fuzz on the fruit stays until it is manually rubbed off the mature fruits. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6gSzZhr2gc/Uv_mDXFaRqI/AAAAAAAACPo/vSBUUfmz6Co/s1600/quince3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Immature quince fruit" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6gSzZhr2gc/Uv_mDXFaRqI/AAAAAAAACPo/vSBUUfmz6Co/s1600/quince3.jpg" height="300" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immature quince fruit</td></tr>
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<div>
<b>Mature fruit </b>- Late in the season, October here in Western NY, the fruit are ready for harvest. The fruits of this variety are larger than most apples. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qCm4tsZtQg/Uv_nON-x9mI/AAAAAAAACP0/mfQpwwqlHTM/s1600/quince4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mature quince fruit" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qCm4tsZtQg/Uv_nON-x9mI/AAAAAAAACP0/mfQpwwqlHTM/s1600/quince4.jpg" height="400" title="" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mature quince fruit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-61639369131325862682013-05-24T08:21:00.000-04:002013-05-24T10:34:27.327-04:00Know Your Herbs?Today's <b><i><a href="http://ourgreenneighbors.blogspot.com/search/label/Know%20Your%20Herbs">Know Your Herbs</a></i></b> is a bit different. Instead of giving you one herb to identify, I'm giving you two. More than that, I'm giving you two that look <i style="font-weight: bold;">very</i> similar when coming up in the spring. (To get a closer look at the details of these plants, be sure to click on the images for the full sized image.) I specifically took the photos where both plants were similar in size and didn't have last year's stalks in view giving you other clues as to the identification.<br />
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These plants are both medicinal herbs native to the North Eastern United States. The shoots of one of these herbs can be eaten if prepared correctly. The other is toxic and no amount of cooking will change that. This is a wonderful example of why you must be able to correctly identify not only a plant but any possible look-a-likes before ever harvesting a single leaf.<br />
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Think you know what these are? <a href="http://ourgreenneighbors.blogspot.com/p/know-your-herbs-answers.html#6">Check your answer here</a>. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5R0GI3MGE7M/UZy3ZRVmcFI/AAAAAAAABjk/5a5aAe6NIUw/s1600/Unknown1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5R0GI3MGE7M/UZy3ZRVmcFI/AAAAAAAABjk/5a5aAe6NIUw/s320/Unknown1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Herb #1</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9v5YVXDqHwo/UZy3ZaMVjHI/AAAAAAAABjo/tHuLlVjls2M/s1600/Unknown2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9v5YVXDqHwo/UZy3ZaMVjHI/AAAAAAAABjo/tHuLlVjls2M/s320/Unknown2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Herb #2</b></td></tr>
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<br />Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-61767248703240348152013-05-19T11:44:00.000-04:002013-05-19T11:44:13.556-04:00Spring Blooms - Eastern Redbud TreeA favorite spring tree of mine is the native eastern redbud (<i>Cercis canadensis</i>). It is a spring blooming small tree that creates clouds of pink pea-like blooms. The tree has a pleasing shape with a round or flat-topped crown which lends that shape to its cloud-like appearance of pink blooms.<br />
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I urge you to consider this beautiful, care-free tree in your landscaping plans. To learn more about the tree and its needs, see one of the following:<br />
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<a href="http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_ceca4.pdf">USDA Plant Guide</a> or <a href="http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_ceca4.pdf">USDA Fact Sheet</a><br />
<a href="http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/h550/cercis-canadensis.aspx">Missouri Botanical Garden</a><br />
<a href="http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CECA4">Wild Flower Center</a><br />
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And for an always fascinating read, be sure to read the <a href="http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cercis+canadensis">Plants for a Future</a> entry on the redbud. Did you know that the flowers are edible? (I can attest to that since I've nibbled the blooms on hikes.) And did you know, that like so many of our native plants, there are herbal uses of the redbud? Read the PFAF entry for more!<br />
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To help showcase its appeal, here are some photos of the redbud in bloom:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v8ZVxBi6LlQ/T6LgUMPe21I/AAAAAAAAA5w/qvSlfYMvF3E/s1600/RedbudTree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis" border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v8ZVxBi6LlQ/T6LgUMPe21I/AAAAAAAAA5w/qvSlfYMvF3E/s400/RedbudTree2.jpg" title="Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hkp8KUmgRXI/T6LgmBz7D3I/AAAAAAAAA6A/Tm_CgyjUxoY/s1600/RedbudTree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis" border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hkp8KUmgRXI/T6LgmBz7D3I/AAAAAAAAA6A/Tm_CgyjUxoY/s400/RedbudTree1.jpg" title="Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis - blooms sprout from the trunk and branches</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fi1iy7j1AK8/T6Lg4eLtIWI/AAAAAAAAA6I/goHSf3kX5-k/s1600/CSHC-Labyrinth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis, at Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic Labyrinth" border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fi1iy7j1AK8/T6Lg4eLtIWI/AAAAAAAAA6I/goHSf3kX5-k/s400/CSHC-Labyrinth.jpg" title="Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis, at Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic Labyrinth" width="400" /></a></div>
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The eastern redbud (seen left) is a beautiful specimen tree for your landscape. </div>
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It is seen here in the plantings around the Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic's </div>
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labyrinth gardens. </div>
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Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-48185665544572934342013-05-08T18:35:00.000-04:002013-05-08T18:42:58.708-04:00Just Take a Breath<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e0sgHKddx1Y/UYrQuoB4L0I/AAAAAAAABiE/zRgRaQi7_yo/s1600/purplerocket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) " border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e0sgHKddx1Y/UYrQuoB4L0I/AAAAAAAABiE/zRgRaQi7_yo/s320/purplerocket.jpg" title="Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) " width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dame's Rocket</td></tr>
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While you can certainly use tripods in your botanical photo taking, I find that lugging the extra equipment around and then setting it up destroys the ability to capture the essence of simple beauty and the sincerity of the moment that Mother Nature presented to us. All my nature photography is done without tripods and without "gardening" or otherwise setting up the shot. I take the shots as I find them for I believe that Mother Nature has the best eye for photo composition.<br />
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But since all the shots are taken by hand, it requires more - if you'll excuse the pun - focus put into each shot otherwise the result is a fuzzy mess. To do this, isn't hard and it starts with a simple breath. Take a breath and hold it for just the moment it takes for you to snap the picture. Amazingly in that held moment, you become so <i>mindfully</i> aware of your body and its every motion. It is a moment of mindful meditation where you become more aware of the tiniest of details - things that are often below your threshold of awareness. And in that attentiveness, you become still and you become very focused. So with breath held, body stilled, and your attention sharpened, you look to your subject and gently press the camera's button.<br />
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Give it a try. What moments of gentle beauty can you capture?<br />
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To inspire you, I captured the shot above and the couple below on a ten minute walk this morning...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M69ne-Fle6w/UYrRPPsfTNI/AAAAAAAABiM/5jF03h3CXCg/s1600/AppleBlossoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M69ne-Fle6w/UYrRPPsfTNI/AAAAAAAABiM/5jF03h3CXCg/s400/AppleBlossoms.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple blossoms (I love the blush of pink)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3HTqxzhxC70/UYrRRBnNXyI/AAAAAAAABiU/CT1i-oaANGA/s1600/Snail-dandelions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Banded snail on dandelions" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3HTqxzhxC70/UYrRRBnNXyI/AAAAAAAABiU/CT1i-oaANGA/s1600/Snail-dandelions.jpg" title="Banded snail on dandelions" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banded snail on dandelions</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-GXuy4r7k4/UYrRSz5NRxI/AAAAAAAABic/_G1TkXZU1CQ/s1600/WildGrape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Wild grape - new foliage" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-GXuy4r7k4/UYrRSz5NRxI/AAAAAAAABic/_G1TkXZU1CQ/s1600/WildGrape.jpg" title="Wild grape - new foliage" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New foliage and flower clusters on wild grape</td></tr>
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Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-85366583268511806412013-05-07T16:26:00.000-04:002013-05-07T16:26:49.801-04:00Herb of the Week: Asparagus<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ve5GtOxOjgs/UYlbkW8N_PI/AAAAAAAABh0/zSbpQpSnEd8/s1600/asparagus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)" border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ve5GtOxOjgs/UYlbkW8N_PI/AAAAAAAABh0/zSbpQpSnEd8/s400/asparagus.jpg" title="Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)</td></tr>
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Like so many of our food plants and culinary herbs, asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a plant that offers us something for our dinner plate as well as <a href="http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Asparagus+officinalis">being an herb with medicinal uses</a>. It is the earliest cultivated food item that I harvest each spring. Surely our ancestors appreciated that and it may be part of the reason why this plant has been harvested for more than <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asparagus#History">5,000 years</a>.<br />
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Yesterday I harvested the first asparagus of the season. They are so good and so fresh, I always munch a few spears before I even get the bag to the house. Because this early vegetable is so tasty and so <a href="http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2311/2">nutritious</a>, rather than speak of the medicinal or other herbal qualities of this plant or the other species in the Asparagus genus*, I will share a simple recipe that I'm sure you will love as much as I:<br />
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<b><u>Grilled Asparagus</u></b><br />
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Fresh asparagus spears<br />
Extra Virgin Olive Oil<br />
Salt & Pepper to taste
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<ol>
<li>Wash and drain asparagus well. Snap tough ends off.</li>
<li>Preheat broiler or grill - this recipe will work with either method. I usually do them under the broiler. </li>
<li>Arrange on a sheet pan in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil (approx. 1-2 tbsp. for 1 lb. bunch). Roll spears around to coat evenly with oil. </li>
<li>Sprinkle with sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste.</li>
<li>Put pan under the broiler or lay spears directly on your grill. Cook until bright green and done to your preference. Flip half way through cooking. </li>
<li>Optional: Use other seasonings for different tastes - lemon pepper, garlic salt, etc.</li>
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This recipe is naturally gluten free, lactose free, and vegan.<br />
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* There are other edible and medical members of the Asparagus genus. To learn more about them, search for "asparagus" at <a href="http://www.pfaf.org/">Plants for a Future Database</a>.Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527133122646573044.post-33904523628738947892013-04-26T11:18:00.001-04:002013-04-26T11:18:49.789-04:00Herb of the Week: Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VD-Khf9_Hmk/UXqYxB7Nf1I/AAAAAAAABhM/fIT6u-Hfb3I/s1600/cranberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)" border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VD-Khf9_Hmk/UXqYxB7Nf1I/AAAAAAAABhM/fIT6u-Hfb3I/s400/cranberry.jpg" title="Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)</td></tr>
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Few things say Thanksgiving more than cranberries but they are good for more than a turkey dinner side-dish. Cranberry (<i>Vaccinium macrocarpon</i>) is a low-growing, native North American plant. While it doesn't require a bog to grow, it like its sister the blueberry, loves acid-rich soil and needs to be well-watered.<br />
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The cranberry's fruit is a powerful antioxidant as well as having nutritional benefits like vitamin c. (<a href="http://jn.nutrition.org/content/137/1/186S.full">Read this article for more on the fruit's phytochemical benefits</a>.) When I was growing up and there was mild urinary complaints in the house, cranberry juice was one of the home remedies we always tried. Studies seem to be inconclusive and contradictory whether or not the juice is effective for such complaints. But either way, it tastes good and is healthy! The leaves of the cranberry as well as the fruit can be used for herbal purposes. (<a href="http://www.longwoodherbal.org/cranberry/cranberry.pdf">Read more about the medicinal uses of the cranberry here</a>.)<br />
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If you have the right conditions, look to add this native plant to your own home and gardens.<br />
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Kim Burkardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11797272682347275168noreply@blogger.com