It's a deer!! As long as it stays down here, I'm fine... but stay out of my yard and leave my tulips alone!
Oh hey, look at this, the trail is actually passable...
Pretty (but stinky Skunk Cabbages are out).
They're so cheery...
And fun to take pictures of.
It's also called Swamp Lantern... and bears love the roots after they wake up from hibernation!! Why? Cause they act as a laxative... errr.... too much information Wikipedia.
Pretty though.
The bush is greening up nicely too.
Ooh, an old shovel...
A patch of stinging nettle! Cool!!
Actually... a huge patch! We should pick some...
That's a nice batch... but now, we have to cut our hike short and head home...
Gotta make something with the nettles...
This book suggests blanching them...
Let's give that whirl.
Hmmm... apparently they taste a bit like spinach...
Well... yes they do... a bit chewier maybe... but good!
You're an expert on living off the land, Sandy! Does boiling take the sting out of the nettles?
ReplyDeleteTHat's my question too.
DeleteBoiling, or even blanching, does indeed take the sting out. It's kind of like spinach... except fuzzier.
DeleteWhat a fun hike. Jerry would like to know: did you see any bees in on your hike?
ReplyDeleteThe bees have been beary slow to come out this year. It's been much cooler than normal. I did see a few big bumble bees but not the flocks like we normally have.
DeleteWe have lots of skunk cabbage on the Oregon Coast as well.
ReplyDeleteI think we have a very similar climate and ecosystem.
DeleteLooks good! Would go great with a bit of salmon...
ReplyDelete