Late last summer, during a whirlwind West Coast visit, I found myself on an unlikely hike through prickly pear cacti up a Malibu mountainside in a private ranch of rented houses to a pool that was clothing-optional on Wednesdays. (Spending time with my friend Reina is always an … [Read more...]
Warm and Fuzzy Mullein Celebration
No matter which way I turn, mullein (Verbascum thapsis) seems to insert its fuzzy leaves into my life. First there was the requested rescue mission to Aurora (on June 18), where Jim and Nancy invited me to weed out all of their mullein. Much to my excitement, there were about … [Read more...]
Whole spring dandelions delight
Yesterday another foot of snow fell at the house here at 11,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies. So much for the few hints of green that were beginning to poke out of the dirt. Fortunately, Gregg and I scored some small spring dandelions last weekend at his parents’ place at 6,100 … [Read more...]
Expectorating with Sticky Gumweed
Sticky gumweed is so distinctive; it’s difficult not to notice when it’s blooming, which in the Colorado foothills ranges from late July through early September. Also known as curly-cup gumweed or curly gumweed, both the “sticky” and the “gumweed” descriptors in these common … [Read more...]
Roseroot is Edible, Who Knew?
I first noticed roseroot on a high-country hike above Fairplay, Colorado as Gregg and I were scrambling up a rock face, off-trail as usual. The plant is distinctive and attractive—tiny, blood-red flowers atop a fleshy stalk with spirally overlapping (Peterson, 1977) succulent, … [Read more...]
