MST Thru-hike 2014!

I am quite thrilled to announce...I'm hittin' the trail!!

I have waited until now to write this post as I wanted to make sure that the trip was indeed "a go". Life has thrown me some curveballs in the last few months, which threw into question whether this trip would actually be possible. The biggest being a car accident back in January- as I laid in the hospital bed with a fractured rib, shoulder, and herniated disk, all I could think was, this cannot possibly be happening...soooo not part of my plan. But alas...that is life...always the unknown just  around the bend...and thus the very reason not to waste too much time indoors pining away for the next adventure...

Simply go. Do it. Climb the next mountain, admire every flower along the way, and most certainly eat the next pint of Ben & Jerrys.

This time, my journey brings me back down to the Mountains to Sea Trail of North Carolina. However in actuality my route should more aptly be called the Sea to Mountains Trail, as I will be hiking it from the Outer Banks to the Smokey Mountains. Start date is this Friday, May 2nd!

I am making this trek primarily to promote my recently published guide, A Guide to the Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Mountains to Sea Trail. I received the first printed copies just last week! It's a guide crafted specifically for the backpacker with a water-resistant cover, spiral binding, and lightweight. Complete with color photos, taken mostly on the MST during my last trek, it provides detailed botanical descriptions of wild edible and medicinal plants along the trail, explanations of their uses, methods by which to harvest them, and backcountry recipes to create delicious and convenient meals without ever leaving the trail. To read more about the guide, check out my post: http://www.thebotanicalhiker.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-guide-to-edible-and-medicinal-plants.html

I'll be doing book events as I make my way down the trail. Stay tuned to the blog to see when and where I'll be if you'd like to drop in and get a signed copy! Some of these events will be in coordination with the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail, so there will also be info on how you can involved or simply learn more about the trail. Or just meet me on the trail!I won't be carrying all those books with me, but I'll have a copy to page through and we can arrange an order online at my blog or by email.

If you have any suggestions on bookstores or outfitters that may be interested in carrying the guide, or have a group that would like to join me for a day of plant-walking on the trail, send me a message!

A bonus to hiking the trail again is that there's miles and miles of new trail! When I last hiked the trail, the total mileage came out to just under 1000 miles. Now it stretches well over a 1000 miles. The exact mileage has not yet been configured, but by my itinerary (and perhaps questionable mathematical calculations), it is almost 1200 miles total.

The new route breaks off part-way down the Neusiok Trail and follows the Cape Fear Arch through southernmost NC. IT then travels up through Howell Woods, rejoining the old trail around Raleigh. Thanks to P.J.Wetzel whose out there hiking the trail right now, I have directions heading westward. Thank you P.J.- you're a pioneer! Check out his blog at: http://www.pjwetzel.com/. I also have westward directions for the new trail from Pilot Mountain to Stone Mountain. However, the other new sections which are luckily less lengthy, such as a trek through Eno River State Park, and a rugged reroute off the Blue Ridge Parkway and into the Smokies, will be challenging considering I have only easterly going directions. I have painstakingly typed up these directions headed westward by reversing them and studying maps, but how well this will work for me, I shall see!

Last time on the hike I used only Scot TABA Ward's book you see to the left and a few maps, now it's all these pages of various updates and reroutes in addition to the guide and more maps! Yowza, this is gonna be some weight in the pack!

The upside is that although I may be wandering around lost, I have a host of trail angels I can call upon along the way. Thank you to Kate Dixon, executive director of the FMST, for your excellent networking skills in this department! I also have my friends that I made along the way the last time I hiked the trail. If I haven't contacted you yet, I will be shortly! Don't hesitate to contact me here either! Last time when I became lost and exhausted I was a blubbering mess, now I have a network of support. Quite awesome.

Please drop in, become a follower, or sign up through the email button to receive new postings directly to your email as I will again be regularly posting about my journey as well as the plants along the trail!

Next post...the eastern terminus of the MST at Nag's Head!

FMST - what an awesome bunch of hikers and trail lovers!

I would like to send out a big THANK YOU to all of those that made the last Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail Conference such a success!! I would name names, but there were so many helping hands that came together to make to happen, that I would hate to leave out a single one!

The conference was held in Burlington, North Carolina at Elon University this past Saturday. Burlington is home to the Union Ridge Church which I so fondly remember camping at, as well as trail angels Harold, Blaire and Cary, and McCory's Grill.

It was a full day of updates about the trail, complete with beautiful colored photos and detailed maps, speakers regarding new publications - I had the pleasure of promoting my upcoming guide here as well: A Guide to the Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Trail- and many a trail tale from fellow hikers and trail maintainers.

The food was delicious and much of it vegetarian, provided by the school cafeteria. The tofu and Asian slaw wrap was so good, I had to take one with me for my car ride over to Asheville. Too bad I can't harvest Asian slaw on the trail...or perhaps that will just have to be a wild/edible recipe to come!

It was truly a day of trail immersion. The MST has one helluva support network...keep up the good work FMST!

A Guide to the Edible and Medicinal Plants of the MST Coming to a Bookstore, Outfitters, or Trail Near You!

Marsh Blue Violet (Viola cucullata)

                                                   
I am proud to announce that my guide, titled A Guide to the Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Mountains to Sea Trail, is indeed coming to fruition and is available for purchase!

Through a hiker's perspective of time, it was a long time coming...I mean, I could have hiked the MST almost 12 times by now, or even the AT more than 5 times by now....but through the writer's perspective, I would say, it's right on time! For the last 2 1/2 years, I have sunk my nose into many a plant guide as well as plants alongside the trail, waded through notes, scoured pictures, drank more than what would be considered an appropriate amount of coffee for a healthy individual to consume, and learned a considerable amount (although still not enough) about the technical aspects of Microsoft Word. 

I am pleased to have connected with my publisher, Hither Page Press, an imprint of Boxing Day Books while out visiting family in the tiny town of Princeton Illinois. It's funny how you find just what you need when you're truly ready for it. Hither Page Press publishes books of local flavor and special interest, and I would say that is just what this guide has come to be.

This guide is not only a means to identifying the plants but specifically designed for use in the backcountry by the backpacker, be he or she a day hiker, section hiker, or thru hiker. It will help you identify a wild edible or medicinal plant, teach you how to harvest it sustainably and efficiently, and  then provide you with a recipe, turning it into a tasty treat; a delicious backcountry meal prepared with no more than your one pot, alcohol stove, and a few simple ingredients; or a medicinal tea, oil, or poultice perfect for the weary hiker.



Violet Pasta Alfredo

 

               1 packet of instant pasta alfredo (Lipton's and Knorr are both yummy & lightweight brands)

1 teaspoon of olive oil

2 tablespoons of dehydrated milk

1 handful of violet leaves

5-10 violet flowers

 

Combine pasta mix and 2 cups of water in a quart sized pot with lid on tightly. Once water has reached a simmer, remove lid, add leaves, and cook for recommended time on packet or until noodles are soft. Leaves will be soft and fully cooked, resembling spinach. Add olive oil and dehydrated milk to maximize creaminess and nutritional value. Lastly, add flowers, and stir to combine.

The beginner plant lover will find the botanical terms easy to understand, the guide easy to navigate, and appreciate descriptions of look-a-like plants which are critical to discerning the featured plant from a inedible or poisonous plant. If there's a term you don't know, there's also a handy glossary in the back of the book.


Common Chickweed (Stellaria media)

A common wildflower with opposite leaves. Leaves and stems are succulent with clear juice when broken.
Flowers have 5 white petals that are so deeply cleft they appear to have 10 petals.
The sepals are conspicuous, as are the dark-brown tipped stamen in the center of the flower
One of the first wildflowers to flower in spring, they enjoy cool temperatures, damp soil, and partial sunlight. They will usually flower again in the fall.

The seasoned plant lover will enjoy the detailed description of uses for each featured plant along with unique recipes not found anywhere else but yet field tested and approved by this hungry hiker, not to mention the high-quality color photo accompanying each plant.

Lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) - gone to seed

 

I'd also like to mention that although this book identifies wild edible and medicinal plants along the MST, all of these plants can be found regionally off the trail, and many throughout the entire eastern United States. The MST can be your starting ground - learn the plants here - and then you'll be able to recognize them in your own backyard or favorite wild place.

Red Clover (Trifolium pretense)

You see, harvesting and eating wild foods, as well as using them as medicine, does not need to be complicated. They can be incorporated into foods we already know and love, enhancing their nutrition and flavor, while at the same time more directly connecting us to our environment, making the hiker a part of nature rather than someone simply walking through it as an observer.

The book will begin to hit shelves in April! It will also be available for order directly through me as well as my blog, and perhaps a selected website or two. If you'd like to pre-order your copy now, please shoot me an email at Heather.Herbs.Yoga@gmail.com.

I know I've taken a bit of a break here at the blog, but now that the meat of the guide is finished, I will be posting here again, so please visit again soon or enter your email into the box at the top of the page, to receive an email directly when I do a new post!

Northeast Amblings

Pink Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium acaule)
This fair maiden was inconspicuously sitting amonst tall grass in a dry meadow where I often like to take a moment to catch my breath while out on a trail run. When I retured to this very spot just a week later, she and her friends had dried and shriveled to brown husks. Now, a good month later, all that remains are the thick velvety basal leaves. It was a privilege to admire you for the short time you bloomed.

Let me begin by saying it's been a full spring and summer thus far. Four days a week, after working 10 hours in a 100 degree kitchen whipping up cupcakes, flipping omlettles, and pressing paninis, I drag my slug-feeling self to the trail, lace up my sneaks and sprint. The first half mile is always the toughest as the thoughts of doubt creep in..."maybe it's too hot out here today"..."you had a long day, maybe you should just take it easy"..."maybe I'll just run to that bend and turn around"...but before I know it, my tight hamstrings have loosened up, my blood feels thin and flowing easily, my arms pump in unison with my legs, and all I can hear is the periodic birdsong loud enough to be heard over the whooshing wind in my ears and the huffing and puffing of my breath...and I can run for miles. By the time I return to where I've started it's as if the workday never even occurred; I have reset.

Spleenwort (Asplenium) - This single frond stood tall amidst the brown leaf litter alongside a trickling spring off of Old Mine Road in Montague, New Jersey.

The spring surfaced from beneath this enormous Oak - to give you a concept of size, Kiely here is 6'8" and normally appears quite tall. A deep stone pit along with a rusty pipe remained at it's mouth, evidence people had once collected water from this spring for use. The water was crystal clear and cold- refreshing on a muggy, buggy, humid NJ summer day. 

On my days off I sleep in late with my sweetie, have a lazy breakfast of eggs, toast, and cowboy coffee, and ponder what we'll do for the day. It may be a stroll along the D&H towpath following the Mongaup River dropping in for a dip in its frigid fast-flowing mountain waters. This path is lined with blooming Rhododron and Mountain Laurel, reminiscent of the southern Appalachians, trailing arbutus, and hemlock. Other days, we drive a windy road up to Point Peter- the highest peak in Port Jervis, NY, mind you a rather short peak in comparison to the nearby Catskills- where we can follow a deer path along the ridgeline, affording us expansive views of the grimy town below and flat-topped NJ/NY green/blue moutains in the distance and Mack trucks rolling along like ants on I-84. At our feet are oak saplings, blueberry bushes, barberry. In the moss and collected soil on the rutted cliff rocks are corydalis and various members of the Heath family. On days where we have more time  we'll take a longer hike to Stairway Falls, a rocky narrow trail through mixed woods, where Dwarf Ginseng, Common Cinquefoil, and Blue Violets isit at our feet. The reward at the end of this walk is a crystal clear lake, complete with water fall, dying trees on the horizon and a sweeping view of the Delaware River below and Appalachian mountains beyond.

Viper Bugloss (Echium vulgare) - This all-over bristley black-speckled member of the Borage Family was crowded amongst Common Moth Mullein, Milkweed, Daisy Fleabane, and tall grasses inside the Iona Island Preserve located in Bear Mountain State Park, NY. According to Peterson leaf tea is useful for promoting sweating, as a diuretic, and externally in healing boils; however it also contains the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids which can cause liver damage. I would recommend using this plant as an external medicine only.

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) - Check out those "fairy wing" stipules (to quote Juliet B.)! This is a key identifier to Red Clover, that and its cluster of irregular magenta colored flowers that resemble a pom-pom. This flower makes an excellent lymph-mover when steeped as a tea, while also offering a healthy dose of phytoestrogens. Ladies, drink up! Be certain to only harvest fresh flowertops, as the brown and wilting ones can have a blood thinning effect, dangerous to those on meds such as warfarin. I have seen these beauties along roadsides, in meadows, and on the edges of woods - an abundant medicinal wildflower.

What I have by far loved the most however about being back in this area is the easy access to swimming holes and river rock from almost anywhere in the area. Within minutes, I can be jumping over a jagged cliff into the Delaware, bracing my feet against slippery smooth stones in the rushing Mongaup, squatting in a shallow swimming hole in the Sawkill between car-sized boulders, or wading into the Raymondskill at the base of a crashing waterfall. It has by no means been a summer of hardcore hiking, but certainly a season of greeting the colorful faces of woodsy, roadside, and railroad wildflowers from Bloodroot in the early spring to Prunella and Wild Strawberry in the late spring to Milkweed now in midsummer.

Just one of the many lovely swimming holes along the Sawkill Stream. I took this pic while literally hiking up the stream, the large flat rocks combined with thick treeroots making perfect flat steps to make the hike easy.

Old Mine Road

On a recent sunny afternoon, I found myself, my love and his mother in my ol' Ford Contour, bumping and bouncing along down one of the oldest continuously used roads in the country. Old Mine Road runs 104 miles from the Delaware Water Gap to Kingston, NY and is said to have been in use, firstly as a Native American trail since the mid-1600's.  From the Water Gap to Port Jervis, NY it is a rural two-lane road bordered on either side by dense mixed woods, cornfields, old barns, historic churches, and tiny graveyards. Traveling from Port to Kingston it is improved (or so they say), becoming a NY state highway. I have explored portions of this road before as it is a corridor leading to some gorgeous trails, many of which lead to the river. But what made this time different was that I was doing so with a new set of eyes. I now saw the plants.

We chose an unassuming trail. After straddling a rusted iron gate, we strolled down a wide path, bordered on either side by White Pine, Hemlock, and Oaks, interspersed with Iron Wood and Beech. The ground was unusually soft and springy, seemingly silty and covered in a carpet of green moss.

Northern White Violet (Viola pallens)

We soon came to a cemetery with headstones, some as simple as a jagged piece of slate stuck into the earth, others shaped and engraved yet so weathered they were hardly legible. I must admit, I spent little time inspecting dates and inscriptions but rather found myself on hands and knees exclaiming at various Violets peeking through the yellow-green grass, the white-speckled carpets of  Chickweed running from head to foot-stone, and the delicate Bluets clustered about the bases of gnarled trees. Not only was the sight of all these Spring -sprung wildflowers beautiful, illuminated in dappled sunlight, colorful and vibrant amidst gray standing rock; but it was an edible utopia - the most abundant I'd seen since being home.

Unknown blue Violet (Viola )

 All Violets consist of 5 petals, irregularly shaped and arranged - meaning all petals are not the same in shape, size and color. Most bear only basal leaves such as these two seen here, however some do have alternate leaves as well. Heart-shaped leaves dominate the species but their are a few with tear-drop shaped leaves as well as many-lobed. Some flowers can be as small as 1/4-1/2", such as the Northern White Violet, where as others can be as large as 1". Blue or white violet flowers can be consumed raw in salads or sandwiches and usually have a mild spicy flavor. The leaves are also edible and can be eaten raw, sauteed or stewed as one would spinach.

Creeping Bluets (Houstonia serpyllifolia)

There are two kinds of Bluet (Houstonia) that can be found in our area, one is the Creeping Bluet (H.serpyllifoila), the other simply known as Bluet or Quaker Lady (H.caerula). The photo above was taken on the MST in NC, but happened to be the best I had to show off the Bluet's tiny 4-petaled face, pale blue with a yellow ringed center. The Bluets here in the graveyard were actually H.caerula, differentiated from H.serpyllifolia by their slightly longer, more oval shaped leaves, arranged in a flatter, more spreading basal rosette, and with more erect stems. H.caerula does not seem to cluster as tightly together as H.serpyllifolia, each flower standing independently. These make a nice addition to salads or sandwiches or simply plucked and eaten raw.

Running Cedar (Lycopodium digitatum) bearing last year's seedpods 

 Hiking on from the graveyard, the trail narrowed and darkened, the mixed woods turning mostly to evergreens, many of the Hemlock's lower branches bare and dead, easy to snap. Here the plant community entirely changed. The trail was lined with thick clusters of Lycopodium, a group of ancient plants belonging to the clubmosses. Clubmosses are not actually mosses but are more closely related to ferns. Lycopodium were once as tall as trees back in the days before the dinosaurs, but like many living things since that time, have shrunk. Though they do reproduce by seed, they reproduce mostly by rhizomes. These are roots that spread and just above or below the soil, sending shoots upwards, giving rise to new plants.

Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

 It was here that the single Canada Mayflower leaves began to appear like little rippling seas of green. These will eventually produce a raceme of tiny 4-petaled white flowers perched atop a stem bearing a few alternate shiny leaves. Being part of the Lily family (Lilaceae), these are also referred to as Wild Lily-of-the-Valley. The entire plant is reportedly astringent and has been used by Native Americans and settlers to soothe sore throats and ease coughs. I myself have never used it as medicine nor do I know how it was prepared or ingested.

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) leaf

Suddenly we spotted something amiss in the glossy green leaves of Mayflower...the mottled leaves of Trout Lily. These too begin by sending up a single leaf but when in flower (seen below!) will bear two leaves and a single nodding yellow bell-shaped flower. The bulbs are edible, though I have yet to find this flower growing in large enough communities to feel comfortable harvesting them. They can be boiled for 20-25 minutes and served with butter (Peterson Field Guide). The leaves are also edible, boiled for 10-15 minutes and yummy served wtih vinegar (Peterson Field Guide). I do plan on revisiting this area and harvesting a few leaves to test Mr. Peterson's recommendation.

Trout Lily in flower

The narrow trail again widened, soon becoming imperceptible as it wandered and spread out in multiple directions through barberry bushes, beech saplings and tall grasses. We had reached the river, with a view of Minisink Island directly across from us. Here, the plants again changed and we caught sight of the large-headed vibrant woodland wildflowers, such as the Trout Lily above, which grew in communities seemingly circular shaped just before the embankment leading down to the water. With enough sunlight, these flowers were  a step ahead.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

On the thick mud and rock covered slopes we spotted Bloodroot. This is the first I've ever noticed this plant up north. I don't know if I simply wasn't paying attention before or if it grows less abundantly here than in the mountains of NC. This was a plant that made me smile every time I passed it's bright white petals and hand-shaped leaf (fingers and all!) while on trail runs. Just before a storm or in the dusk when the light lessens, the single deeply lobed leaf will curl around the stem just as this one here and the flower will close to protect its pollen. This flower is termed bloodroot because of the bold orange-red juice of its roots and stem. Bloodroot has a long history of use among both Native Americans and the eclectics as an emetic and  in curing warts. It is also used today in some toothpastes as an antimicrobial. It is however a strong medicine, shown to produce lesions when applied topically in excess, as well as act as circulatory and respiratory sedative when ingested in large amounts. This is a plant to be respected and allowed to proliferate, considering its populations are not as large as the used to be.

Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) 

Lastly, as we wandered the topmost edge of the river's slopes, we brushed by clumps of little white "breeches" trembling in the wind. I looked for little men running about at my feet without their pantaloons, but alas perhaps they were all red-faced and hiding. Again, a medicine used by native peoples but with central nervous system depressant qualities and tending more towards poisonous than medicinal, one to be respected. However, I must say I do like it's lore as a love amulet. One tribe's young men liked to throw these sexy breeches at potential mates to secure their affection. A bit of botanical strip tease perhaps? If this didn't work, the man could nibble the root and his breath would attract his desired woman even against her will (Peterson). Hmmm, considering this bit of info, I'll close this post on a word of caution: Ladies, better keep an eye out for those sneaky breeches.

Spring Amblings

Milford has been experiencing unusually warm temps for this time of year, and so for once, the spring time blossoms have actually correlated with the Spring Solstice. As strange as it's been to roam the woods in shirt sleeves and shorts and still break a bit of a sweat in March and April, it's been absolutely blissful to again experience the warm evening breezes, morning birdsong, and falling of confetti like petals from the tree-tops above. In addition to the moderate temps, it's been a dry season with little snowfall to saturate the soil, but the woodland plants seem not to mind, sprouting and shooting and popping from the forest leaf litter.

Fiddleheads

With the longer days, most of my hikes have been late in the day, after work with dusk quickly approaching or on a lazy afternoon in golden slanted rays of sun. What a trip it is to again be walking these woods on a regular basis. To look to the horizon and see the familiar flat-across-the-top Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey Appalachian Mountains, the thickets of barberry and piles of shale deep in the woods, and nature persevering side-by-side with man's footprint of pavement, construction, and junk...I know these are my woods. These woods are home.

But enough with the musing...I'm just putting off the difficult task of choosing just which plants to feature in this post!

Stellaria media (Common Chickweed)

These two beauties were part of a thick community of Chickweed and Cleavers (Galium aparine) carpeting an embankment along the Neversink River Park walkway in Deerpark, NY. Using a pocketknife, I quickly harvested two handfuls - the plants being about 6" tall, it was easy to grab the above ground parts and simply slice across at soil level. I stewed them up that evening in sweet potato stew, and keeping them refrigerated, enjoyed them for several more days on cheese and veggie sandwiches. Chickweed is one of the first edibles flower in the spring and likes moist soil and partial shade.  Not only can humans enjoy nibbling this super yummy green, but  cotton-tailed critters like 'em too!

Rabbit in chickweed thicket - notice white topped flowers in background

 Along the edge of the sandy gravel walkway, basal rosettes of Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) sat like giant velvet green flowers, not yet bearing their flowering stalks, which will appear the second year of Mullein's life. The yellow 5-petaled flowers of this plant are excellent soothing expectorant for the lungs -try drinking as tea or taking as a tincture - as well as helpful in breaking up wax in the ears. Common practice is to make an oil infusion of the flowers, however, I have found a simple tincture, using just a few drops, works just as well if not better.

Verbascum thapsus (Mullein)

Speaking of plants in poor soil, it often seems some of the most thriving edible plant communities exist in, unfortunately, the most polluted of places. Below is Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum). This cluster was growing amongst Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea), Cleavers, Dandelion (Taraxcum officinale), and Garlic Mustard (Alliara officinalis) upon a rocky riverside embankment on the Delaware River. Being close to residences, a neighborhood park, and the bridge which links Matamoras, PA and Port Jervis, NY, this strip of land had collected much trash that had both washed ashore as well as been swept downhill with run-off. Broken bottles shone admist the smooth river rock and plastic bags shook in the breeze from their tangled perches in the cherry tree saplings and yellow grasses. Sad to see such a beautiful area marred with garbage, but good to see the beauty that can coexist. Perhaps this is the mere nature of vitality, to thrive even amidst the muck.

Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum)

 

 

 

 

 

Asheville- A Glimpse of Spring

Kiely and I just off the parkway near the MST with Looking Glass Rock behind us

Oh Asheville! I visited with friends, savored amazing Asheville food and drink, and got out into the woods! I returned to portions of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail where it parallels the parkway, meandering familiar running routes and hopping rocks down the river that runs through Graveyard Fields (thanks to this one above who prefers to pick his own path). I remembered the bliss of hiking through these mountains, spectacular vistas around every corner, and felt grateful to know them so well. They too have become a home for me.

Thank you to the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail for putting on such a wonderful event for hikers and those interested in hiking/supporting the trail. It was awesome to meet fellow hikers Scot, Danny, Sharon, Heidi, and William and hear your stories. Good to know there is so much enthusiasm and love for the trail...and to all those interested in the plants of the trail, know that my book is in the works! Any help in regards to potential publishers and marketing would be greatly appreciated.

Above all, how sweet it was to walk the trails and see tell-tale signs of spring popping up from the mica-speckled red clay and drying leaf litter. Sweet as it was, mid-February is a bit early for some of these appearances. Friends expressed concern at what would happen with a cold snap that will inevitably come in the mountains before true spring arrives. But, the good news is that many of these plants are adapted to the cold weather and are nearly indestructible with their trailing interconnected root systems. I think these hardy greenies will do just fine.

Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium purpureum)

This wild edible was one of the first spring greens I exclaimed over while hiking on the River Trail at Warren Wilson College (my alma mater). Although called a "nettle" this plant is actually of no relation to true nettles (members of Urticaceae), however they are thought to resemble them due to their heart shaped leaves and hairiness. They are called "dead" because unlike true nettles, these do not have hairs that sting. Purple Dead Nettles are members of the Mint family (Lamiaceae), easily identified by their opposite leaves, square stems, and irregular 2-lipped (bilabiate) flowers. Found growing in dense colonies, they are a common weed throughout waste places, along roadsides, and in gardens. The above ground parts can be harvested and eaten raw or boiled with a change of water as a pot herb. Don't be scared by the hairs, simply make sure you have some water nearby to chase your trailside snack.

Bird's Eye Speedwell (Veronica persica)

Not far from Purple Dead Nettle, I found a carpet of Bird's Eye Speedwell, yet another wild edible. This plant is a member of the Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae), with Veronica being the largest genus therein. Though at first glance its flowers may appear regular (equal in size, shape, and color), notice that one petal is actually slightly smaller than the rest. The leaves are alternate and its stem round, both softly hairy, though not as much as the Purple Dead Nettle. I came upon this plant regularly while on the more "civilized" parts of the MST, as it is a common weed along roadside and on lawns. In this case, I found it underneath a cement bridge that crosses atop the Swannonoa River.

Wild Onion (Allium spp.)

And now the spice to add to your salad of Dead Nettle and Speedwell- Wild Onions. These are members of the Lily famlily (Liliaceae) and consist of various species such as A.cernum, A.canadense, and A.vineale, some refered to Wild Garlic as well. I find it difficult to discern just which I am looking at without seeing its flowers which will be 6- petaled and regular. Leaves are long and narrow and hollow (seen here) and arise from a underground bulb. Strong in flavor, they can be chopped up and eaten raw, sauted, or added to soups and stews as one would chives. There are poisonous look-a-likes, though all are odorless and will not have 6-petaled flowers growing terminally in umbrella-like clusters as onions do.

Among these edibles, I also found baby Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Chickweed (Stellaria spp.), and Common Toothwort (Cardamine diphylla).

Putty Root (Aplectrum hyemale)

Here is a non-edible that I came across that I feel still deserves some attention. A member of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae), this leaf will persist all winter and in the spring shoot up a pencil thin stalk bearing alternately stalked and slightly drooping tiny greenish-purple flowers. The leaf can be up to 10" long, though those that I have found are most often between 6-8", and 3" wide, easily identified by its parallel silver venation. It is an endangered plant, at least in NC, so if you come across it, handle with care! The name Putty Root results from the glue-like substance which the Native Americans found could be derived from its bulbs.

A view from the River Trail



Thank you Asheville. A week in the sun with clear blue skies, 60 degree temps, magnificent mountains and love all around did me good. And I'll have you know, Milford, I bottled up some of that bright southern sun and brought it back with me. So although it's presently snowing and gray and cold, I'm right now popping the cork and spreadin' it 'round, let it shine!