Last Week April Dogwood,Redbud,Azalea,Garlic Mustard,Horse Chestnut,Dandelion,Mayapple

Having done an overall survey of the Rolandvue ,Cloverlea walks, we may try a series of weekly posts describing the most dramatic plants along the way.  For the last week of April(2016) here are some of the common sights.  Remember my enthusiasm for this is partly foraging and partly a recent conversion to nature observations.  All mention of plants as food are tentative and identifications are open to revision.

The dogwoods are the most visible feature, more gardening than naturalist, but then it is all part of nature in the general sense.  At least Cornus florida is a native.  Notes from the web: the name may relate to hardness of the wood,in old English was Dagwood. Dag as in Dagger, hard enough to hold a sharp point.  The Anthracnose fungus seems not be a problem in the neighborhood.  There are no brown or purple splotches on leaves,no cankers.  Was the concern about this an over-reaction or is it still a threat? The fungus has been recognized for almost fifty years, but maybe some treatment lessened the effect.The dogwood twigs were broken and chewed to make toothbrushes in pioneer days.   Interesting the Kousa dogwood is not yet flowering.

Redbud, mostly on Rolandvue is passed its prime, the picture is from further north in the county. This is also more in the gardening area, but some references consider the flowers to be edible.

Azaleas are also common, a member of the Rhododendron family, some varieties are native.  There are thousands of cultivars favored for the long blooming characteristic. Watch for the leaf gall in the late spring. I am often asked "Papa can we eat all the flowers?".  Clearly the answer is no and azalea is one not to try, along with all the Rhododendrons.  There is less than ideal evidence on both ends of the nutritious/poisonous spectrum, not a lot of science. Oleander is poisonous but maybe not as poisonous as in the movies, violets are good but do not make a steady diet of them( or of anything).

We have mentioned the garlic mustard as a yummy edible or detestable invasive weed. The ID on this plant seems so clear that I do munch on some of the young leaves, with no ill-effect so far.  The garlic taste varies from plant to plant. The taller visible weed is the second year growth of the biennial pattern.  Note the small white flower.

There are numerous small horse chestnut plants around,  often in the same area as deer browse(corner of Cloverlea and Rolandvue).  Do they not care for the horse chestnut?  Or does the horse chestnut out-compete for other reasons?

You may have heard the term "using the royal weed".   It refers to Dandelion,the Queen of the edible weeds.  All parts can be used, greens, wine, potherbs, even the hollow stem can be used for a straw.  There is a vacuum collection device for the seeds but no good use for them as yet.

Clumps of Mayapple are also common along the end of Rolandvue toward the lake and along Cloverlea.  The flower is hidden under the large leaves as is the latter fruit.