Cardinals

Cardinal Taking A Stance Amongst New Leaves

Female Cardinal

Cardinal In Flight

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Happy Winter Solstice!

Happy Winter Solstice!
Wishing I was in this spot right now.

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Fragrance Free Respect

For those of you who wonder why I haven't attended many events or been around much, over the last decade or more, this is why.

 

Iberville Shale

These remind me of icebergs.

Iberville shale

The flat, dark gray stones streaked with unmistakable white lines on the shores of Lake Champlain are Iberville shale – a name that comes from the Quebec town where the shale was discovered by Western geologists. It’s a thinly layered, sedimentary rock that was formed from marine silt deposited roughly 500 to 440 million years ago. Iberville Shale was created during the Ordovician period, when almost all of the earth north of the tropics was ocean. The silt deposited deep in these ocean waters became shale as it hardened and compacted over time. It’s younger than most other sedimentary rocks in the Champlain Valley, which date back 600-500 million years. The tell-tale white stripes are veins of mineral calcite formed by powerful compressing forces that drove calcium carbonate in the water to coalesce into mineral calcite.

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Indian Pipe Plant

Indian Pipe Plant, Ghost pipe, Ghost Plant, Corpse Plant, Dutchman's Pipe, Monotropa Uniflora

This unusual plant has no chlorophyll, so is not green. It therefore cannot make its own food, and is a parasite having a relationship with a fungus and a tree. It takes nutrients from both and so is found under American beech and pines along with types of mushrooms which include the Russula and Lactarius mushrooms. 

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Thanks for your visits, favs and comments. As always, appreciated very much!

© all rights reserved by Elise T. Marks. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Disclaimer

My blog is meant to inform and I strive to be totally accurate. It is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects.

Giving Thanks

We may come with different beliefs and backgrounds but our hearts all desire the same things - peace, love, security, connection, & joy. This is where we need to place our attention. Thank you for sharing kindness, caring, and compassion, and may we all cherish and protect the natural world.

 

Canada Anemone

Canada Anemone

Anemone canadensis is also known as windflower, meadow anemone, round-leaf thimbleweed. Tribal people used the roots and leaves of this plant medicinally. It’s a common sight in moist meadows or along streambanks. This wildflower can cause skin irritation, so wear gloves and long pants/long sleeves while pruning. It is toxic to humans in large doses.

My photographs are available for purchase through EliseCreations.net

Thanks for your visits, favs and comments. As always, appreciated very much!

© all rights reserved by Elise T. Marks. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Disclaimer

My blog is meant to inform and I strive to be totally accurate. It is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects.

Nuthatch Parenting

Nuthatch Feeding It's Children

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The Old Round Church In Richmond, Vermont

The Old Round Church In Richmond

The Old Round Church In Richmond, Vermont With Fall Afternoon Shadows

The Old Round Church, was built in 1812-13 under the direction of local craftsman William Rhodes to be the Town Meeting Hall and place of worship for members of five Protestant denominations. Significant for its rare design and well-preserved detail, it is perhaps the sole surviving example of an early 19th-century 16-sided wooden meetinghouse. Today it is open to the public during the summer and fall foliage seasons (10-4 daily) and is a venue for weddings and community programs.

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On The Rocks Or Ode To An Inchworm

On The Rocks or Ode To An Inchworm

As I sprawl in the sun on these rocks,

that echo the coolness of the icy water around them.

Like a lizard absorbing the heat,

Lazily watching a glowing green inchworm

traveling across this stoney surface,

Inching it's way around and over crisp autumn leaves,

Strewn in it's path. 

Like a tightrope walker balancing 

on the razors edge of a leaf.

Onward to the next surface,

Climbing the mossy slope,

to then dangle off the ledge.

Then turning and moving on,

To where?

I'm not sure that even the inchworm knows.

Perhaps the journey is fascinating,

Regardless of the destination.

Travel well

While I bask in the beauty of this sunny afternoon.

Lulled by the sound of water flowing by

On this lovely mountain stream.

As colorful leaves rain slowly down around me,

All I can think is, 

Can I live here?

Because I never want to leave.

By Elise T. Marks © 10-5-2023

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Loving The Forest in Vermont

Me Loving The Forest in Bolton

Me Loving The Forest in Essex

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Herbalism

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxIoqn6O-fK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

Wildcrafting

 Wildcrafting isn’t as simple as going out and digging an identified plant out of the ground in order to use it! Learning and teaching others how to harvest plants must be combined with a fair amount of instruction on why one should harvest in the first place, which plants to harvest, when to harvest, and how to do it in a sustainable way. Ethics and sustainability should always be in the forefront of our minds as we forage! 🍃

While there is a lot of information we herbalists should pass on to wildcrafting newbies, perhaps the most important is teaching about at-risk plants and why we should not harvest them. 🍃

At-risk plants are either naturally rare in the environment or becoming rare through human influence. Just as some plants reproduce and spread quickly and are often termed as “invasive” plants, there are those that are quite the opposite. These are naturally rare – due to slow growth habits, habitat incompatibility, population isolation, genetic incompatibility, problems with seed dispersal, loss of pollinators (can be caused by human influence), or by competition from or overpopulation of invasive plants and animals ... and so forth! 🌼

As herbalists, our work revolves around plants, so it is important we use plants in a wise manner—protecting and preserving them with their long-term viability in mind, not just for our sakes, but for the sake of the plant and the ecosystem. We must ask ourselves if we truly need the plant we’re considering using and we must help others understand this importance, too.

Becoming a responsible wildcrafter sometimes means not harvesting a plant if the population simply cannot support that impact and sustain itself, or whenever you are not sure what the impact of harvesting could be. This is why it’s so important to study foraging with a mentor or reputable school and to make sure you’re aware of sustainable guidelines before you start harvesting.

Species At-Risk List via United Plant Savers –– Sandalwood, Kava Kava, American Ginseng, Venus Fly Trap, Sundew, Maidenhair Fern, Cascara Sagrada, Squirrel Corn, Goldenseal, Lady’s Slipper, Orchid, Ramps, Lomatium, False Unicorn Root, Peyote, Stream Orchid, White Sage, Osha, Bloodroot, Virginia Dutchman's Pipe Trillium, Beth Root, True Unicorn Root, Blue Cohosh, Echinacea, Elephant Tree, Wild Indigo, Butterfly Weed, Stone Root, Wild Yam, Yerba Mansa, Black Cohosh, Eyebright, Pipsissewa, Chaparro, Pink Root, Mayapple, Slippery Elm, Lobelia, Arnica, Gentian, Goldthread

Farmers Market Flowers

Spring At The Farmers Market

Blooming Trees

Under The Canopy Of Flowering Trees At City Hall Park

Gorgeous Gladiolas 

at the farmers market.

Cannas

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Passion Flowers

Passion Flowers

Also known as apricot vine, maypop, and

Passiflora incarnata L. is a native vine to the southeastern US. Passionflower leaves (Passiflora spp.) are the only food source for gulf fritillary caterpillars (Agraulis vanillae, Nymphalidae). Other butterfly larvae also feed on passionflower leaves. You can pop open the fruits when they are starting to turn yellow and begin to wrinkle, and slurp up the seedy flesh. You can chew up the crunchy edible seeds, though some folks opt to spit them out.

HISTORY & FOLKLORE

Passiflora sp. has a rich history of traditional use dating back to pre-historic times. Seeds that were thousands of years old were found around Virginia, where the Algonkian Indians thrived. Early European settlers have records of the Algonkian Indians eating the passionflower fruit. The Cherokee used the roots as a poultice to draw out inflammation in thorn wounds; tea of the root in the ear for earache; and tea of the root to wean infants. Additionally, various parts of the plants, including the fruits, were made into a beverage, and the leaves and young tendrils were boiled or fried and eaten. The Houma people infused the roots as a blood tonic. Various indigenous groups were known to use the plant as a topical poultice. P. incarnata has had documented uses in Europe going back to 1787. In the spirit world, passionflower has been used as a magical charm to attract friendships and to bring peace, and the leaves can be placed in a house to illicit harmony and lessens discord.

USES & PREPARATIONS

Can promote natural relaxation and stress reduction.

Primarily the above ground parts (the entire vine including leaves, stems and flowers) are dried used as a tea or tincture or are powdered and encapsulated. Fresh or dried plant material may be made into a tincture.

Passion Flower of another color.

Curly Passion Flower

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© all rights reserved by Elise T. Marks. 

Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission. 

Disclaimer

My blog is meant to inform and I strive to be totally accurate. It is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects.

Clouded Sulphur Butterfly

Clouded Sulphur Butterfly

(Phoebis sennae), On New England Asters. 

I believe this one is a female.

Clouded Sulphur Butterfly On Echinacea

Colias philodice on Echinacea purpurea.

The whole plant can be used for its immune boosting properties.Technically speaking, this thick and spiky cone is actually hundreds of flowers, all tightly packed together.

Thanks for your visits, favs and comments. As always, appreciated very much!

© all rights reserved by Elise T. Marks. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.

Disclaimer

My blog is meant to inform and I strive to be totally accurate. It is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. Some wild plants and mushrooms are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects.

Chasing A Butterfly

Rosey Chasing A Monarch Butterfly

or

as I prefer to call it a Monarch Flutterby

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Hostas Beauty

Hostas Flowering Beauty In The Rain. Hostas grow best in part to full shade, ensuring that they’re in shade during the heat of the day. Hostas are a wonderful edible in your very own yard. They were a wild plant in their native Japan, China, and Korea growing in woodlands and along stream banks. In Japan, hostas are known as Urui, and they’re part of a class of vegetables known as “Sansai” or “mountain vegetables” which describe wild edibles that are commonly harvested and eaten. When hostas made the transition from wild woodland plant to backyard ornamental, people forgot about eating them. They have a pleasant crunch, a bit like the juicy green mouthfeel of iceberg lettuce, but with a lot more flavor.  The best time to harvest hostas is when they’re young shoots just emerging from the earth in spring. I’ve heard the flowers are also delicious later on in the summer, and you can eat those without cutting into your actual plant. Use a sharp knife to slice hosta shoots off at ground level. Take off a handful or two from each plant and there’ll be more space for the remaining stalks to thrive. Choose shoots that are tightly coiled and haven’t opened their leaves. Cook them like you would asparagus.

Hostas Have Lovely Patterns

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© all rights reserved by Elise T. Marks. 

Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission. 

 Disclaimer My blog is meant to inform and I strive to be totally accurate. It is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. Some wild plants are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects.

Golden Snail

Golden Snail.
Like a jewel on a leaf.

Snails and slugs are part of the Mollusk family of animals – alongside clams, octopus, scallops, oysters, squid, and chitons. The primary difference between slugs and snails is the hard exterior shell that snails don for protection. Slugs and snails are further classified as ‘gastropods’, which literally means stomach and foot, which is fitting, seeing that they slide along on a muscular foot while munching on everything in their path! In addition to being ferocious eaters, snails and slugs rapidly reproduce.

Thanks for your visits, favs and comments. As always, appreciated very much!

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© all rights reserved by Elise T. Marks. Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission. 

Caterpillar Noshing

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Tree Hugger

 

Me Loving A Giant Tree.

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Comma Anglewing Butterfly

This is a  Comma Anglewing butterfly, with it's lovely Shadow, on burdock.  Anglewing butterflies are named for wing shape (the genus Polygonia means many angles). "Punctuation" anglewings include Comma (Polygonia comma) and Question Mark (P. interrogationis), both named for the tiny silver marking on hind wings' ventral surface (underside). 

These butterflies, native to the eastern half of the U.S., are colored in burnt orange with dark brown blotches. Resting against tree bark with wings closed, they're virtually impossible to see. Ragged wing edges and cryptic brown/gray coloration on the underside make them look like a dead leaf or bark. 

Here is the underside of the wings, so you can see the white comma.

Anglewing Butterfy on Nettle.

Anglewing butterflies are named for wing shape (the genus Polygonia means many angles). "Punctuation" anglewings include Comma (Polygonia comma) and Question Mark (P. interrogationis), both named for the tiny silver marking on hind wing's underside. Resting against tree bark with wings closed, they're virtually impossible to see. Ragged wing edges and cryptic brown/gray coloration on the underside make them look like a dead leaf or bark.

The larvae of anglewings, tortoiseshells and the Red Admiral all feed on nettles.

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Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.