Spring here has been quite unusual. We had temperature well above the normal range early in the spring and are now having about normal temperatures with lows sometimes dropping down into the mid thirties. Because of the early warm weather, the mushrooms were out much sooner than normal. I found just a very few this year. This being one of the few....
I also came across a quite interesting plant. I remember my dad calling this Wild Licorice. If you pull it up or break a stem, it gives off a very strong black licorice smell. Doing a bit of research....and getting some great help from Quilsnkiko on Paleoplanet (a great site by the way); I learned that it is often called Wild Licroice, but a more proper name is Sweet Cicely. Following is information I copied and pasted from the internet...and my apologies, this was saved a couple of weeks ago and I do not remember the site. As always do your own research
Properties Sweet Cicely was used extensively by Native American Indian tribes to treat digestive disorders and as an antiseptic wash for a range of problems. Sweet Cicely is medicinal and edible, the root being the strongest for use in alternative medicine it is antiseptic, aromatic, febrifuge, oxytocic, pectoral, stomachic, carminative, tonic, ophthalmic, and expectorant. Medicinal tea made from the root is a very good digestive aid and is a gentle stimulant for debilitated stomachs. A weak herb tea is used to bath sore eyes. A strong infusion has been used to induce labor in a pregnant woman and to treat fevers, indigestion, flatulence, stomach aches. The crushed root is an effective antiseptic poultice for the treatment of boils and wounds. A medicinal cough syrup can be made of the fresh juice and honey, it is very effective and quite tasty, children take it readily. The leaves and flowers are edible in salad and add a great flavor, or boiled and eaten as a pot herb. The root is eaten raw or dried and ground for use as spices.
Sweet Cicely....
This morning I made it out to a local area. The weather was overcast and had just stopped raining. It again drizzled a bit while I was out. I came across these geese at the upper end of a lake and had some fun getting as close as I could and snapping a few pictures.
As I was watching the geese, I noticed a large bird approaching from overhead. My hope was that it was one of the Bald Eagles that are becoming more common here again. It was actually a Great Blue Heron. I snapped a quick picture as it went overhead. Not the sharp focus I would like, but I had the camera set on manual focus for the geese.....but I got a nice view of it soaring over me.
Just a look out across the Lilly Pads in the shallow water.
The woods and fields have certainly "popped" with color! I do enjoy all the seasons, but this fresh Spring color is quite welcome.
.........and so concludes this post.
Please get out, enjoy nature, and learn as much as possible....Thanks so much for stopping by!
I also came across a quite interesting plant. I remember my dad calling this Wild Licorice. If you pull it up or break a stem, it gives off a very strong black licorice smell. Doing a bit of research....and getting some great help from Quilsnkiko on Paleoplanet (a great site by the way); I learned that it is often called Wild Licroice, but a more proper name is Sweet Cicely. Following is information I copied and pasted from the internet...and my apologies, this was saved a couple of weeks ago and I do not remember the site. As always do your own research
Properties Sweet Cicely was used extensively by Native American Indian tribes to treat digestive disorders and as an antiseptic wash for a range of problems. Sweet Cicely is medicinal and edible, the root being the strongest for use in alternative medicine it is antiseptic, aromatic, febrifuge, oxytocic, pectoral, stomachic, carminative, tonic, ophthalmic, and expectorant. Medicinal tea made from the root is a very good digestive aid and is a gentle stimulant for debilitated stomachs. A weak herb tea is used to bath sore eyes. A strong infusion has been used to induce labor in a pregnant woman and to treat fevers, indigestion, flatulence, stomach aches. The crushed root is an effective antiseptic poultice for the treatment of boils and wounds. A medicinal cough syrup can be made of the fresh juice and honey, it is very effective and quite tasty, children take it readily. The leaves and flowers are edible in salad and add a great flavor, or boiled and eaten as a pot herb. The root is eaten raw or dried and ground for use as spices.
Sweet Cicely....
This morning I made it out to a local area. The weather was overcast and had just stopped raining. It again drizzled a bit while I was out. I came across these geese at the upper end of a lake and had some fun getting as close as I could and snapping a few pictures.
As I was watching the geese, I noticed a large bird approaching from overhead. My hope was that it was one of the Bald Eagles that are becoming more common here again. It was actually a Great Blue Heron. I snapped a quick picture as it went overhead. Not the sharp focus I would like, but I had the camera set on manual focus for the geese.....but I got a nice view of it soaring over me.
Just a look out across the Lilly Pads in the shallow water.
The woods and fields have certainly "popped" with color! I do enjoy all the seasons, but this fresh Spring color is quite welcome.
A couple of young doves we have been having fun watching in our yard.
.........and so concludes this post.
Please get out, enjoy nature, and learn as much as possible....Thanks so much for stopping by!
