The blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) is awake early this spring. I found some the other day, in three different stages of unfurl. The one completely unfurled is in a pot in the nursery area, the other two are in the ground in the same area. I missed the initial unfurling of the stem this year. I’m …
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) Unfurling Read More »
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) There’s a nice patch of Solomon Seal at the front of the driveway that was so choked out last summer that I don’t think any of them got a chance to bloom. I was afraid they might not come back after that. And I wasn’t sure exactly which spot it was where …
One day I’ll be better at making videos, but for now, just enjoy a good laugh while watching me test pigment rocks at the creek.
This morning I walked over to see if there’s grass growing in the horses’ field yet. After crossing over rocks in the creek, as I walked up the hill out of the creek valley, I found this fossil. It looks like the spiral of an ammonite. If that’s what it is, it’s the first one …
Every morning I feed the horses and chickens. Once it gets close to spring, I also begin my ‘get-in-shape’ program. Come along with me to feed the horses before I head out for a jog and walk early on a March morning. I’ve fed the chickens already. The time is right after sunrise, so light …
Phenology is the study of the timing of re-occurring environmental and biological events. So Wild Ozark Phenology is just limiting my study to what I observe right here at Wild Ozark. This is hit or miss with me, as I keep forgetting to add to it. I’ve already missed several of my usual spring markers, …
Every year the same flowers bloom in pretty much the same order. And although I have hundreds of images in my files, I can’t help but start heading out with the camera. The blooms start in early April in the ginseng habitat. The first flowers that bloom are usually the toothwort (formerly of the Dentaria …
Is it ginseng? No, it’s buckeye. There are a few plants that grow here in the Ozarks that make it really difficult for newbies to identify ginseng. That’s because these look so much like ginseng to the inexperienced eye. These are called ginseng look-alikes. One of the look-alikes is Ohio buckeye (Aesculus flava). This is …
Here’s a little inspiration to get outside on this beautiful sunny day and enjoy nature. Phlox is blooming and casting joyful purple splashes all around the Wild Ozark hills and woods, and the fiddleheads are unfurling.
I have a mystery plant to decipher. Last year I went to the woods and took a root division of a plant I wanted to grow in the Ginseng Habitat Demonstration Garden. I put that root cutting into a pot and placed it in a sheltered spot in one of my nursery terraces. The summer …
It’s mid-March 2018 and I’m watching for the first native flowers of the Ozarks to start blooming. I particularly love the ephemeral blooms of early spring, like the bloodroot and Dutchmen’s breeches. Scroll down to see pictures and keep up with what’s blooming at Wild Ozark. If you’re looking specifically for the ginseng unfurling/blooming, you’ll …
2018 Spring Awakening Watch – First Native Flowers of the Ozarks Read More »
There’s a Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) seedling creeping up toward the light in my spleenwort fern (Asplenium platyneuron) container. I watched it for a few days with a suspicious eye as it unfurled, because I thought it might be a poison ivy. Virginia Creeper This isn’t one of my favorite plants. I’m only fascinated with it …
Virginia Creeper Seedling in my Ebony Spleenwort Fern Read More »
Here’s the second of the Green Dragon drawings I’ve been working on. I posted the first part of it last week. This part is called the spathe (the hood) and the spadix (the long ‘tongue’) and it is the namesake of the dragon. This part of the plant is what becomes the cluster of red …
Namesake of the Dragon – Another Green Dragon Drawing Read More »
Someone asked me yesterday about how ginseng stewardship benefits the landowner. It stumped me at first, because I’d never considered it from that angle. What is Stewardship? To steward something is to manage or take care of something. The short answer to this post’s question is yes. Stewardship benefits the landowner, especially if they want …
How Ginseng Stewardship Also Benefits the Landowner Read More »
A Kindle Picture Book from Wild Ozark makes a wonderful anytime gift for yourself or the nature lover in your life! “No-Tap” Kindle Picture Books on Nature The fact that you’re here means you must be one of my Kindle readers – probably of one of the “Into the Ginseng Wood” ebooks. Thank you for …
Welcome! You’re at the home of Wild Ozark’s “No-Tap” Kindle Picture Books on Nature Read More »
There is something magical about moist & shady places. I’m in the woods a lot, photographing and looking at ginseng. During my wandering, I see so many little microhabitats with moss-covered rocks, cool shady spots – nooks that look like they could be fairy hangouts. Imaginary Worlds … or Just the Unseen Worlds? Add flowing …
Fairy Gardens and Mushrooms and Gallivanting Around the Woods Read More »
Lots of flowers in the ginseng habitat right now. The following are just a sample. Wild Ginger If you don’t mind getting down on the ground, you can see the wild ginger (Asarum canadense) blooming. Flowers are usually just below the leaf litter at the base of the stems. Mayapple The mayapples are blooming too. …
I got a late start photographing the early spring plants this year (2017). They started without me and I’ve already missed some of them. These are some of the plants unfurling and blooming on April 1 in the woodland habitats here at Wild Ozark. Early Spring Plants This late afternoon shot of fern fiddleheads is …
Early Spring Plants of the Woodlands in Madison County Arkansas Read More »
We’re in a holding pattern at Wild Ozark right now, which is in its own way a sort of liminal space. Rob has two hernias and we’re waiting for the surgeon’s office to call with his appointment day/time. So while he limits his movements to the barest possible, I’m staying nearby to fetch things so …
Rewind: Between Autumn and Winter: A Liminal Space Read More »
An updated and reposted article, originally written during winter of 2015. Join us as we go digging goldenseal. It’s the middle of winter right now and the best time to propagate this valuable medicinal herb. About Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis, or goldenseal, is a medicinal herb native to eastern United States. It is a ginseng companion …
Questing for Gold: Digging goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) Read More »
I’m still mostly stuck in the house because of my knee (dislocated it a little over a week ago) but I took the four-wheeler and camera down the driveway to get a few photos of plants unfurling or coming into bloom. Doll’s Eyes versus Black Cohosh Late last year, after the flood in summer, I …
Photos of Plants – Medicinal & Useful plants down the Wild Ozark Driveway Read More »
Lots of things going on – or rather, NOT going on lately. If you’re a subscriber to my monthly newsletter, you’ve probably already seen the update that I won’t be doing the farmer’s market this year. I forgot to add some of the items below to the newsletter, so this post is not a complete …
I write fiction and nonfiction, all of which is nature-influenced. Nonfiction topics include useful plants, ginseng. Fiction is rural fantasy. Nature-Influenced Nonfiction My nonfiction titles are all short books on American ginseng, useful plants, and nature. Most are available as paperback or Kindle, but some are only Kindle. The Wild Ozark Nature Boutique will carry all …
An older post, but still representative. Eventually I’ll update it but for now, I’ll leave it alone: This is the second year since making Wild Ozark my full-time endeavor. Over the past year, I’ve noticed a life-cycle of sorts. It’s risen organically, and next year I hope to be more efficient at taking advantage of …
Wild Ozark plants blooming at the end of May I took a little walkabout yesterday to photograph some of the flowers that are setting berries, blooming, or getting ready to bloom right now. Yesterday’s post highlighted the orchid I’d been waiting to see bloom. The ginseng pics were also added to the “Ginseng Habitat Through the …
