Rose of Sharon is a non-native Asian bush, Hibiscus syriacus, in Malvaceae (hibiscus) family. You can find purple, pink, & white varieties. They proliferate easily via seeds & can be invasive. Leaves & flowers are edible raw or cooked. Flowers make a nice tea. #foraging #photography #edibleinvasives

The Venus flytrap, a native of Appalachia, is a fascinating plant. Latin name: Dionaea muscipula in the sundew family. Tiny hairs trigger the jaws to snap shut on bugs. Here is a giant ant being slowly dissolved by Venus's digestive juices. #carnivorousplants #feedmeseymour #photography #gardening

Look at this brilliant orange butterfly weed! Bees & butterflies find it irresistible, as do I. Latin name: Asclepias tuberosa, in the dogbane family, which explains its toxicity. The boiled roots were used to treat diarrhea, back in the day. #foraging #photography #gardening #bees

Cool things about cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), a tree in the hibiscus family: It is related to okra & cacao; it is illegal to grow in some US states without heavy regulation to control the boll weevil; It has been used for >7,000 years; & its oil is edible. #usefulplants #gardening #photography

Iris domestica, aka leopard lily, is in the iris (not lily) family. Its showy bright flower gives way to an interesting seed pod with black seeds inside. Leaves grow in a tall fan-like fashion. Not edible but it has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. #gardening #photography #medicinalflowers

An almost perfect false parasol mushroom (Chlorophyllum molybdites in the Agaricaceae family) will cause you to question your life choices should you mistake it for one of its edible cousins & take a bite. But it is a delight to look at. Always be sure of ID. #fungifriends #foraging #photography

Invasive wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa in the carrot family) is a biennial plant with sweet taproots if eaten before it flowers. Be careful with ID: some related plants (like hemlock) are poisonous. Sap causes blisters; use gloves & long sleeves when harvesting. #foraging #photography #edibleweeds

Prairie Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginica in the Commelinaceae family) is a tall native perennial. The leaves are edible raw or cooked. Use flowers as an edible garnish. A root poultice can treat stings, while root tea treats constipation. #foraging #medicinalwildplants #photography #gardening

Who among us does not love wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca in the rose family)? These tiny sweet gems hiding in grass are much sweeter than cultivated ones. Swedish differentiates wild (smultron) from garden-grown (jordgubbe). I agree; they are not the same. #foraging #wildediblefruit #photography

Wild four o'clocks, tall native perennials with magenta flowers (Mirabilis nyctaginea in the Nyctaginaceae family), are in bloom in Minnesota. The root has been used as a poultice for burns & sores; root tea is used for fever and to expel worms. #foraging #photography #plantmedicine

The invasive, noxious & unloved Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica, in the Polygonaceae family, same as buckwheat) is almost impossible to kill. Once established, abandon all hope. Only redeeming factor: young stems can be cooked like rhubarb. #foraging #edibleplants #photography #gardening

Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp), aka saskatoon & juneberry, is a delicious wild native fruit. A Rosaseae family member, it is prone to cedar-apple-rust fungus, which disfigures the fruit but won't kill the tree. Apples, roses, cedar & juniper are all susceptible. #foraging #wildberries #gardening

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium in the Asteraceae family) can brighten a garden with its daisy-like flowers. Native of the Balkans, feverfew can treat migraines, fevers, inflammation, act as a sedative, & to regulate menses. The dried plant is safer than fresh. #photography #gardening #medicinalherbs

I never write about insects, but this horned passalus beetle (Odontotaenius disjunctus in the Passalidae family) is so cool to ignore. These beauties can get over 3" long, & also fly, which may induce nightmares should they head toward your face, but prefer to crawl. #photography #gardens #insects

A cute little brown mushroom is growing between rocks in my flower pot. I have no idea what species it is yet, but it is welcome to enjoy my garden. (The plant is pennyroyal, a mint family member. I will write more on that after it flowers.) #fungifriends #gardening #photography #littlebrownmushroom

Rue is an old-fashioned herb used for culinary & medicinal purposes. Ruta graveolens is the Latin name, in the citrus (Rutaceae) family. This Mediterranean native also can repel insects. Toxic in large quantities so use sparingly or you will rue the day. #foraging #gardening #photography

Beautiful & eye-catching European smoketree (Cotinus coggygria), often grown as an ornamental, is in the sumac (Anacardiaceae) family. Leaves may be edible, but not palatable. Inner bark can treat fever, eye ailments & stimulate bile discharge. #foraging #photography #trees #gardening

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum genus in Amaryllidoideae family) is native to tropical America. Popular as winter flower, some species have been used medicinally. It's toxic so don't experiment on yourself & try to self-heal. Store bulbs in dark basement to replant next year. #photography #gardening #flowers

Partridge berry (Mitchella repens in coffee family) is a tiny native evergreen vine with pink flower buds, white flowers & red edible berries. Tea is used to aid childbirth but be careful; tea early in pregnancy can cause miscarriage. Berry tea is sedative. #foraging #medicinalplants #photography

Lyre feaf sage (Salvia lyrata) is a mint family member, native to the eastern US, with square stems, distinct leaf shape & tall flower stems. Not edible; leaves & root can be made into a salve to treat skin sores. Vigorous growth makes it a nice native ground cover. #foraging #photography #gardening

Who does not love marigolds, with bright flowers that both repel pests & draw pollinators? Native to Mexico, Tagetes erecta & T. patula are shown, in aster family. Petals & leaves are edible; drink tea for indigestion & constipation. Flowers can color food & cloth. #foraging #photography #gardening

Rattlesnake hawkweed (Hieracium venosum, in the aster family) is a perennial native herb with distinct red-veined leaves. Its yellow flowers come later in summer. The root is used to treat bowel complaints. The round-leaf plant next to it is partridge berry. #foraging #nativeplants #plantmedicine

Creeping thyme with white flowers (Thymus sp. in the mint family) graces a garden, providing culinary greens, spice, & medicinal tea. Use leaves in salads & soups for flavor. Seep leaves in hot water for tea to treat respiratory & digestive problems. #herbalmedicine #foraging #photography

Wild yams (Dioscorea villosa in Latin, in the Dioscoreaceae family) grow abundantly in the forest - 5 heart-shaped leaves in a whorl. Notice the 3-leaf poison ivy nearby? Wild yam is used as a contraceptive & an anti-inflammatory, among other uses. #foraging #herbalmedicine #photography

Wild geranium, a lovely little native perennial, grows in eastern woods. Latin name is Geranium maculatum, in the Geraniaceae family. The root is antiseptic & astringent, used to treat diarrhea, IBS, toothaches, & hemorrhoids, among others. #foraging #wildplantmedicine #photography

Today is May Day, a pagan celebration of the start of a new growing season. It also has become a celebration of labor rights. So let's enjoy the changing seasons, the power of workers, and a buttercup (Ranunculus repens, in the Ranunculaceae family). #mayday #wildflowers #photography #laborrights

Columbine, aka aquilegia, is a perennial wildflower in the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family. Hybridization results in some spectatular varieties. This lovely prolific wildflower has long been used in Asia, Europe, & America as a natural medicine. #wildflowers #photography #gardening #herbalmedicine

Pink daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus, in the aster family), is a cute native wildflower popping up in lawns & fields; much beloved by bees, butterlies, & other pollinators. Settlers believed drying plants would deter fleas. Boil young leaves for a spring green. #foraging #wildflowers #photography

Peony bud with ant - Paeonia officinalis, in the Paeoniaceae family, is a European native & widely grown across North America. Ants eat the nectar coating the buds while keeping aphids & other pests away. Infused petals make a nice tea. Root is used in Chinese medicine. #photography #gardening

One of my favorite native bushes is blooming right now - Carolina Allspice,l (Calycanthus floridus in the Calycanthaceae family). Small red flowers line the stems, staging their spring show & emitting a sweet smell. The bark can be used as a cinnamon substitute. #foraging #photography #nativeshrubs