Shout out to all the wild plants!
Purple Dead Nettle first starts popping up in late January and flowers in early February. They’re like a friend who comes early to your party but it’s alight because they help you to get set up. Leaves are soft and fuzzy. The tiny flowers are an elegant reminder of an intricate world on a smaller scale.
Family: Lamiaceae
Purple dead nettle is apart of a very strongly scented and medicinal family. The dead nettle’s smell is green and earthy. Some of her more fragrant cousins include basil, oregano, and thyme. She’s also family to Lion’s Ear, or Klip Dagga, which I’m excited to cultivate for the first time this year (2024).
Purple dead nettle is prolific and spreads easily by seed. She’s often visited by bumble bees. Say hey when you see her out and about this spring.
Dandelion blooms began to crest across the landscape in mid-march. Open their fluffy heads with lengthening sun. Lights. Reach down and transport a call from inside the clay — Hop in bitch, it’s spring time.
Family: Asteraceae
This year I took the time to harvest flowers, and dig up some dandelion root from the yard. I covered the flowers in oil for later topical use*. And roasted the cleaned roots for a tea. Inspired by the chocolaty flavors emanating from the oven - in a sauce pan I toasted fresh ginger, cracked black pepper corns, green cardamom, and cinnamon bark. Once fragrance I added a little water along with some crushed dandelion root and oolong tea. After a while I added some oat milk and let that simmer. Frothed with some honey this was a deeply delicious morning cup.
I used the excess leaves, flowers, root parts, and stems to start a jar of dandelion jlf or Jadam liquid fertilizer. In 3 months time that slightly smelly goop will impart the strength of the dandelion back into the soil. (3.27.24)
*Update.4.21.24 Unfortunately, the oil grew mold so I had to compost it. Next time I’ll try infusing the oil with heat.
Violets. I noticed them blooming this year in early to mid March. A deeply beautiful coloration. I’ve learned to identify their heart shaped leaves so I can avoid them with my string trimmer even before they bloom.
Family: Violaceae
Is it cliche to write that I have an affinity towards prickly plants? Well it’s true. And when I see Thistle start to emerge at the end of March a proud smile stretches across my face towards this naughty little sibling of mine. Thistle is nothing if not clear – be careful with me. Similar to other plants with thorns or prickly hairs, like the blackberry, zucchini, or eggplant, thistle is protecting something juicy, and sweet. I appreciate the sustained quality of attention they require in order to get it.
Family: Asteracea
What time is it really? Has the air thickened into something sweet? Has it bloomed a cloud of gnats vibrating at the smell of orange peels decaying with the leaves and the coffee grounds in the compost pile. Is the ground soft? Who is that crawling out of that hole? Has the red clover started to glow? The mulberry stain heavy in the walkway. Are your hands hungry?
Family: Fabaceae
A patch of Poison Ivy thrives in the shade of two large oak trees at the bottom of a slope, stabilizing it. Each year it comes back more lush than the last. Rooted in, laughing — try me. Poison ivy is for the birds. She’s for the rabbits and the insects, for the deer and the goats. Shoots emerge all over. Shiny green then vivid orange, yellow, brown. Rooting where a steam contacts the soil and pulling across the yard.
Family: Anacardiaceae
soon come…
Yellow passionflower