A tasty foraged find in March in the desert Southwest are the pods of jewel flower. This plant is native to a limited area of the Southwest, but when you find it in Arizona it is often nicely abundant. Jewel Flower And here is why […]
Sunflowers are a American native plant, used for centuries by the Native people. The plants once grew only in North and Central America (the “New World”). Once Europeans “discovered” sunflowers, they were rapidly carried and planted around the globe. Indeed, sunflowers are one of the […]
Elder or elderberry is a Southwest native somewhat shrubby tree. Virtually all parts of the plant are used. In my book on Father Kino’s Herbs, I list these uses: “Cosmetic, Culinary, Dye, Edible Flowers, Medicinal, Ornamental, Wildlife.” What’s in a Name As with any useful […]
Forage some wormwood (Artemisia) while you forage your acorns for OAKtober. Indeed, you can forage leaves of the wormwood plants at virtually any time of year. Best flavor is when plants are not in bloom tho. Wormwood?! This plant was once commonly used to treat […]
Acorn season is here. Last week we shared how to forage and process acorns. Now here are a few ways to use them. Acorn Safety Reminder. Do NOT eat raw acorns. They are high in chemicals called tannins, which are great for tanning animal skins […]
Tall stately mesquite trees are not what most people think of as a herb! But this graceful tree with durable wood was used as a medicinal herb as well as a source of food, tools, and building materials. Mesquite Pods The seed pods of mesquite, […]
Creosote is a remarkable herb for your herb garden! Low-water, lovely, and highly useful, this unique desert shrub rewards any extra water you give it by adorning its branches with masses of vivid yellow, star-shaped flowers. After the pretty flowers, the seed pods develop. They […]
Agarita berries are some of the earliest fruits to harvest in our region. The berries are tart for sure – but I like the flavor better than strawberries. Finding Agarita Mind you agarita is not something found in Low Desert around Phoenix – it’s more […]
