There is an interesting plant particularly on the south side of Rolandvue between Cloverlea and Wagner in the hillside. It is a straggling low plant with whorls of lance-shaped leaves coming off the stems at intervals of a few inches. The leaves and stems have small hooked hairs which cling to surrounding plants and to clothing. It is considered a noxious but fun weed. It was used in bedding because it did cling to itself and stayed in place.
If it clings to your shirt it probably is bedstraw and could be considered for foraging. It bears watching,said to be transitory and disappear in a month or so. There are small white flowers arising from the leaf axils.
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| closer view of cleavers,a velcro plant |
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| bedstraw or cleavers |
The magnolias are blooming this week. They are more in the gardening category but interesting. The flowers are said to be edible, made into teas or infusions. The large blossoms are a sign of ancient heritage, originating before bees so pollenated by beetles,thus needing stronger flowers. Leaves can be a seasoning. Not sure of the specific type although grandiflora is said to be common.
The horse chestnut trees are blooming. The road is covered with petals. They are more on the very large trees and not on the small shoots or small trees. The horse chestnut is toxic and even the deer seem not to eat the small horse chestnut leaves. The internet is silent on the edibility of the horse chestnut flowers. The trees are widely scattered but two are at the top of Cloverlea hill.
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| What's that in the road..a head? Horse chestnut petals. |
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| close-up horse chestnut flowers |
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| a blossom on a smaller horse chestnut tree |
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