Creeping Bellflower

                                            

Creeping Bellflower
Also known as rampion bellflower, like a lot of edible wild plants, a transplant from Europe and Siberia, it was apparently popular as a garden plant (like many weeds in the United States) and, as weeds will do, it rapidly spread from gardens to yards, to forests and fields. The good news, is that you can eat it, and you should–as much as you can find. The leaves and young shoots of Creeping bellflower has a mild flavor, similar to, but not quite like spinach or other mild, leafy greens you’d cook and like a lot of other greens you might forage, creeping bellflower is better cooked than it is raw. You could possibly hide a few leaves in a salad, but it's not worth it, when it’s so much better as a cooked green. Only harvest the basal leaves though, as leaves growing up the flower stalks are relatively small and north worth mentioning. The deep beautiful bell-shaped blue flowers can be added to a salad. The young roots are somewhat sweet and pleasant addition to a salad, boiled in water along with potatoes and other vegetables, and probably also ok in a stir fry.
I found this growing in South Hero, Vt.

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Herbed Robert

Herbed Robert (Geranuim robertianum) also known as herb-Robert, red robin, death come quickly, storksbill, fox geranium, stinking Bob, squinter-pip (Shropshire), crow's foot, or (in North America) Roberts geranium, is a common species of cranesbill native to Europe and parts of Asia, North America, and North Africa.
Herb Robert, or what was once known as Saint Robert's Herb, was named after a French monk who lived in 1000 AD, who has cured many people suffering from various diseases using this plant. A supremely therapeutic herb, in its ability to oxygenate the cells, which helps the body to fight disease and renew itself. Herb Robert works to increase the immune response and the body’s ability to regenerate. The herb is renowned in Portugal by traditional doctors and herbalists as the most effective herbal remedy for cancer treatment and prevention. First Nations people have used this plant internally to help with many health ailments and externally for healing wounds, herpes and skin eruptions. According to an article in The Healing Journal, scientists, herbalists, and botanists have discovered that Herb Robert grows especially abundant in areas that have high radiation levels (which include under hydro lines). It is believed that Herb Robert absorbs the radiation from the soil, breaks it down and disperses it.
Herb Robert has been used in the folk medicine of several countries, including as a treatment for diarrhea, to improve functioning of the liver and gallbladder, for toothache and nosebleeds, and used for healing wounds).
Fresh leaves can be eaten or tossed into a mug to make a tea. The flower and leaves can be dried and stored so that it can be used throughout the winter months as a tea or tossed into salads as a nutrient booster. The root can be dried and used. Rubbing fresh leaves on the skin is said to repel mosquitoes, and the entire plant repels rabbits and deer.

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Catalpa Tree Flowers

Catalpa Tree Flowers

Northern Catalpa Tree, Catalpa speciosa, Commonly called Catawba, is a genus of flowering plants in the trumpet vine family, Bignoniaceae, this is a tree that demands your attention. It produces clusters of large, trumpet-shaped, white, showy, somewhat fragrant, flowers in May and June, and begins flowering about 7 years after planting. With Giant heart-shaped leaves, dangling bean-like seed pods, and uniquely twisting trunk and branches, the northern catalpa grows to a height of 40–60' and a spread of 20–40' at maturity. Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree. Due to their large leaf size, Catalpas provide very dark shade and are a popular habitat for many birds, providing them good shelter from rain and wind. These trees have very little limb droppage, but drop large, dark brown bean pods that are 8–20" long and ¼–½" wide, starting out green and turning brownish as they ripen, during late summer. They are filled with numerous, 1" long seeds that are fringed at the ends.

The bean-like seed pod is the origin of the alternative names Indian Bean Tree and Cigar Tree for Catalpa bignonioides and Catalpa speciosa.

The tree is the sole source of food for the Catalpa Sphinx moth (Ceratomia catalpae), the leaves being eaten by the caterpillars.

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Reservoir View

Reservoir View Another Day In Paradise!

It was a beautiful breezy day. 

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Bees Like Lilacs Too

Bees Like Lilacs Too

The lilac flowers go by so fast. I wish they lasted much longer. My Favorite Scent Of Spring.

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Creeping Speedwell

Creeping speedwell

Veronica filiformis is a species of flowering plant in the genus Veronica. It is known by many common names, including slender speedwell, creeping speedwell, threadstalk speedwell, and Whetzel weed. It is native to eastern Europe and western Asia.

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False Solomon's Seal

False Solomon's Seal Ready To Bloom

 False Solomon's Seal Ready To Bloom

  False Solomon's Seal Blooming

False Solomon's Seal

Maianthemum racemosum

Common name(s): false Solomon’s seal, Solomon’s plume, false spikenard, feathery false Solomon’s-seal, feathery false lily-of-the-valley
A native woodland plant that produces long, arching stems, and creamy white flowers in fluffy clusters, at the ends of the stems in spring. After flowering, small, pea-size berries develop that turn red in late summer. 

Magical Attributes

This plant is a true survivor and often the first to return after a forest fire. Use it to help you get through hard times and to rebuild after your world has come crashing down.

Healing Attributes

In traditional medicine the dried roots of false Solomon's seal can be used to brew a tea to treat coughs and constipation. Chemicals in the roots act as expectorants and mucous softening agents. A leaf tea of the plant can be used topically to treat rashes and reduce itching.

The smoke of the root has been used to calm hysterics.

An infusion of the root has been used for constipation, rheumatism, inflamed eyes, as a general stomach tonic, and to regulate women's cycles.
 An infusion of the leaf has been used as birth control- 1/2 cup per day for no more than a week is said to prevent conception. 
A decoction of the leaf is said to be useful for colds and rheumatism, 1 cup 2-3 times per day.

Externally, the root relieves pain, has antiseptic qualities and stops bleeding. The dried powdered root is a useful thing to have on hand for first aid. The crushed, fresh root makes a soothing poultice for strains, sprains, boils, arthritis and swellings.

Culinary Use

The berries are edible and bittersweet but large quantities have a laxative affect. This may be removed by cooking. Young leaves are edible but considered relatively unpalatable. They may be eaten raw or cooked and the young shoots may be eaten like asparagus. In small quantities, cleaned rhizomes can be consumed. The root should be soaked in a bowl of water with a few teaspoons of baking soda added for several hours before cooking.

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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.