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Melana's Foray Rambling
General ramblings from list mommy
Yesterday I went on a foray. Dandelions have begun their bloom season and I was on a quest for yet more greens. I gathered my trusty back-pack and field guide and headed out on a new route along my beloved bike paths. I came across a plowed field and while I had my nose to the ground I spotted several deer tracks. This is amazing to me since we are on what I consider an "overly developed" island. These bike paths are small pockets of wild area and each day I watch as we loose more of the local wild flora to "modernize and develop" these areas.
At any rate I scanned the field for coltsfoot which is considered an invasive weed and low and behold I found a clump. I sat down with it for a bit and we discussed me moving it to my house. Where it was would only be plowed again soon and though I have every faith it will persist I explained that a cozy home in my yard would be far nicer than the field. We agreed that moving gets old after awhile and it gladly joined me (as well as another clump we talked to later) and both are now residing in my herb beds.
In my journey I catapulted my ample bottom over a ditch about 2 feet wide and just as deep. As the earth shook upon my landing I decided I was getting far to old for acrobatics. Imagine my dismay when I found yet another ditch in my path some 150 yards further along. (I am a forward person and hate to turn back) This ditch was a wee bit wider and a wee bit deeper and the ice cold water in the bottom did not look the least bit inviting. I hurdled this ditch as well, praying during my flight that there where no sprained ankles waiting for me on the other side. Safely over I found a field just bursting with red clover, dandelions, coltsfoot and yet another deeper and wider ditch.
I decided then my days of being air-born where over and I followed the ditch in a quest for an old woman exit. Along the way I collected some of the best dandelions I have found yet, (long deep green rosettes of leaves, solid thick roots and only a hint of the bloom season to come); cattail shoots, yarrow leaves, wild raspberry leaves and some coltsfoot blooms also joined my collection bags. I eventually made it to an exit worthy of a lazy woman and I toddled up the path to explore this new pocket of my small wild world.
Along the canal I found the wild lettuce still in season and I collected several of the inner leaves for supper. Poison Hemlock is coming up as well and the deep green leaves look lovely against the thick backdrop of last years dead plant growth. I stopped and told it what a marvelous plant it was and what a shame it was that it would kill me. It chuckled and I swear that poison hemlock is the soul of some ex-hubby of mine. Good looking as all get out but deadly to the body and soul.
The morning passed in a flash and I now officially proclaim spring here in Quebec. This is the first time I have been out this season and not been froze solid by the time I returned home. All my wild collections are in t he process of being added to the table. I am blanching much of my collected dandelion greens to be frozen and added to meals latter in the season. The cattail shoots will be wrapped in thin slices of ham and garnished with a white sauce or cheese for supper tonight and my red raspberry leaves and yarrow will join my tea blends for latter in the evening.
I still have my eyes out for morels and fiddlehead ferns. Not sure what luck I will have on our marshy little island, but one can always hope.
Many blessings to you all in everything you do.
Melana Hiatt