Category Archives: Native plants

Creating new bed with nature

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Angelyn

There’s an area of grass that I’ve been wanting to convert to some more beds.  I finally started turning over the soil and removing the grass this summer.  Next, I opened a coning with the Deva of the Gardens and … Continue reading →

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Fraser magnolia

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Angelyn

Last year I received information during a nature coning to plant a fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri) in a new space on the property.  Here’s a view of that small tree when I first transplanted it to the new “shade garden.” … Continue reading →

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Could this be comfrey?

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Angelyn

I found this plant in the woods last July and could not figure out what it was.  The leaves reminded me of the comfrey plant (shown below). And yet, the leaves are really quite different.  So I waited.  I saw … Continue reading →

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How to survive bitter cold temperatures

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Angelyn

Rhododendron abounds.  It covers the hillsides here.  And when it gets cold outside (like the 5 – 15 degree temperatures, not counting the extreme winds and wind chill factor we’ve had this past week), the rhododendrons “retreat.”  Their leaves curl … Continue reading →

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Snow????

Posted on November 6, 2010 by Angelyn

I awoke this morning to unexpected (by me) snow.  At least two inches deep.  Probably more came down and, since the ground is still warm, a lot melted before I awoke to the falling white magic.  Yesterday afternoon I checked … Continue reading →

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The allure of ginseng

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Angelyn

Ever since a friend and I found this ginseng plant growing (and previously flowering) near where she lives, I have been intrigued by ginseng (Panax quinquefolius).  I looked up information about it in identification books, in medicinal herb books and … Continue reading →

Posted in Conscious nature collaboration, Herbs, Native plants | 2 Comments

Where can I find witch hazel?

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Angelyn

The idea of a plant that blooms in the winter intrigues me.  Supposedly this area provides favorable conditions for witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) to grow.  I’ve only seen color photos of witch hazel blooms and not the leaves.  As I … Continue reading →

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Spicebush

Posted on October 23, 2010 by Angelyn

My latest photography project is to capture plants in their fall foliage.  In the past I focussed on plants when they were blooming and neglected later phases of their lives.  Tonight I processed photos taken a few days ago and … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbal medicine making, Native plants | 1 Comment

Cherry bark

Posted on October 16, 2010 by Angelyn

I recently received the gift of a broken limb from a wild black cherry tree (Prunus serotina).  Portions of it were a perfect size for obtaining fresh cherry bark for a tincture or a cough syrup.  When I got the … Continue reading →

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Hanging out to dry

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Angelyn

Goldenrod has begun blooming in my area.  This is one patch of it just outside my front door.  I began harvesting last week and this morning I harvested another armload. I stripped off the not-so-nice leaves and hung the three … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbs, Native plants, Wildflowers | 1 Comment