Exploring the property
Our property is pretty overgrown with various plants. I am not experienced in plant identification but I want to learn and am very curious about the types of plants already rooted on the land. Finding myself intrigued, I took to Google and started researching to unravel the mysteries hidden within our lush surroundings.
Flowers that smell like a bakery
One of the first things I noticed growing in the front yard were the different flowers. Two kinds that were abundant - one flower smelled like chocolate and the other flower stung like fire ants. Intrigued, I picked a yellow daisy and brought it close to my nose. To my surprise, it smelled just like hot cocoa! The unexpected scent piqued my curiosity, leading me to discover that it was a Lyreleaf Greeneye, also known as a chocolate daisy. Eager to propagate this delightful find, I delved into learning how to harvest the seeds and am planning to sow them in various areas of our property.
The other flower that is easy on the eyes but not meant for direct contact is the Bull Nettle. My stepson unfortunately discovered these the hard way when he ran through the front yard without his shoes on. He couldn't understand why his feet burned so much; we quickly checked the ground for the source of his pain, and I immediately recognized these plants. Growing up in an area where these would sprout all around, I shared my knowledge with the children, educating them on identifying the plants. Since then, we haven't had any stinging incidents.
However! I did learn that the Bull Nettle root can be harvested and treated like a potato when boiled. I haven’t attempted this yet but I am adding this to the list of wild edibles to try.
Other Edible Foliage
As I take my breaks to wander outside, I find myself drawn to identifying the various plants around our homestead. Recently, I stumbled upon vining muscadine grapes flourishing wildly, alongside abundant blackberries, beautyberries, and pepperweed.
Given the overgrown nature of our property, we made the decision to enlist the help of a forestry mulcher to clear the land, paving the way for our future livestock areas. It brings me joy to have recognized some of the previously unknown plants, allowing us to make informed decisions about which flora we wish to preserve on our land.
