Category: Ozark Native Plants
For online plant walks, join me for a variety of nature-based courses including plant walks, nature journaling, and how to make paint from rocks: https://shop.wildozark.com/. Plant walks are seasonal (and varies according to leaf or bloom time especially when it comes to orchids).
Scroll down for my website content on our Ozark native plants:
-
New Things I’ve Seen and Learned
The past several days have been exceptional. That’s because of the amount of new things I’ve seen and learned in such a short span of time. Orchid flowers I’ve never seen before and learning new building skills as I work … Read the rest “New Things I’ve Seen and Learned”
Written by
-
What is Nature Farming? What does a Nature Farmer Grow?
What I mean by ‘Nature Farming’ is not the same as ‘natural farming’, ‘organic farming’, or ‘natural farming methods’. Explanations for all of these things come up when you do a search online for ‘nature farming’. But nothing turns up … Read the rest “What is Nature Farming? What does a Nature Farmer Grow?”
Written by
-
I Don’t Pull Them All – The Weeds I Keep
To most gardeners, they’re definitely ‘weeds’. But some of them offer beauty and interest in my garden. So these are the weeds I keep. Something about them makes me regard them with a lot more affection than I would for … Read the rest “I Don’t Pull Them All – The Weeds I Keep”
Written by
-
Woven Willow – using one of Nature’s Renewable Resources
A while back I posted about the woven willow fence I was building as a retaining wall in my garden. Since then I have come to love willow branches. They’re one of my favorites of nature’s renewable resources now. After … Read the rest “Woven Willow – using one of Nature’s Renewable Resources”
Written by
-
2026 Orchid Watch
Yesterday I detoured from my usual path to do my morning walk/jog. Instead of going down the driveway, I went through the horse’s gate to see if there were salamander eggs at the spring seep. There were not. But what … Read the rest “2026 Orchid Watch”
Written by
-
The Earliest Ozark Spring Flowers
So far, the earliest Ozark spring flowers I’ve noticed have been the endemic Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis). Wriggly tendrils of yellow and orange add little splashes of color to the otherwise barren winter landscape, usually in February … Read the rest “The Earliest Ozark Spring Flowers”
Written by
-
Ginseng Unfurling 2024
This year the ginseng is unfurling a little earlier than it has in recent years. I was surprised to find it already coming up when I checked yesterday. Here’s a blog post I just made over on my nursery website:… Read the rest “Ginseng Unfurling 2024”
Written by
-
Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) in Ozark pigments
Originally, I had planned to do a series of my favorite woodland plants in grayscale. But that was before I found the stone that gives me a sort of green pigment. So changed up the plans a little. Now I’m … Read the rest “Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) in Ozark pigments”
Written by
-
Hermit Diaries | May 2, 2020 | Wild Ozark
With the nice weather we’ve had for the past few days, I’ve been working in the garden. My hermit diaries really don’t reflect a life much different than ordinary life out here at Wild Ozark, though. The only real difference … Read the rest “Hermit Diaries | May 2, 2020 | Wild Ozark”
Written by
-
Color from Osage Root Bark
Today I experimented with Osage root bark to see if it will make paint. Ordinarily, I avoid using plant pigments because they tend to be fugitive, meaning they fade or discolor with time. Some plant pigments, like the green I … Read the rest “Color from Osage Root Bark”
Written by
-
Wild Mountain Mint – Whiteleaf Mountain Mint
Wild mountain mint grows in abundance here at Wild Ozark. This particular variety is called White-leaf Mountain Mint. While this post was originally created in 2016, I still enjoying seeing and using these aromatic plants. My own use of them … Read the rest “Wild Mountain Mint – Whiteleaf Mountain Mint”
Written by
-
Potted Ginseng Seedlings in Arkansas
So I have some help this year with the ginseng nursery from a pair of young organic, permaculture enthusiasts who are ready to learn about being good ginseng stewards. That means I will after all have some potted ginseng seedlings … Read the rest “Potted Ginseng Seedlings in Arkansas”
Written by
-
Early April in the Ginseng Habitat
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 … Read the rest “Early April in the Ginseng Habitat”
Written by
-
If the Creeks Don’t Rise… Springtime in the Ozarks
Wild Ozark will be at Terra Studios tomorrow. But with the rain we might get overnight and in the morning, the odds are looking poor. If I can’t make it there on Saturday, then on Sunday I should be able … Read the rest “If the Creeks Don’t Rise… Springtime in the Ozarks”
Written by
-
Learning the Difference: Ginseng or Buckeye?
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 … Read the rest “Learning the Difference: Ginseng or Buckeye?”
Written by
-
Lousewort, Bumblebee Food and Medicinal Herb
Herbalism, Herbs, Homestead, Native Medicinal Plants, Nature, Ozark Native Plants, Plants, Self-RelianceLousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) is an interesting plant. It’s a medicinal herb said to be effective at muscular pain relief. The bumblebees love it! Rosy colored variety of Pedicularis, with a bumble bee visiting. A pale yellow-colored lousewort. Some lousewort, showing … Read the rest “Lousewort, Bumblebee Food and Medicinal Herb”
Written by
-
2018 Spring Awakening Watch – First Native Flowers of the Ozarks
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 … Read the rest “2018 Spring Awakening Watch – First Native Flowers of the Ozarks”
Written by
-
Vernal Witch Hazel Flowers and Hazelnut too!
Today I went out to take cuttings from the Ozark Witch Hazel in the hopes of rooting them. I wasn’t looking for an American Hazelnut, but that’s what I found! I found the Witch Hazels, too. But I already knew … Read the rest “Vernal Witch Hazel Flowers and Hazelnut too!”
Written by
-
Virginia Creeper Seedling in my Ebony Spleenwort Fern
Native Medicinal Plants, Nature, Nursery, Ozark Crafts, Ozark Native Plants, Plants, Woodland PlantsThere’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 … Read the rest “Virginia Creeper Seedling in my Ebony Spleenwort Fern”
Written by
-
Namesake of the Dragon – Another Green Dragon Drawing
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 … Read the rest “Namesake of the Dragon – Another Green Dragon Drawing”
Written by
-
A Green Dragon Drawing
Art by Madison Woods, Inspired by Nature, Nature, Nature Drawing, Ozark Native Plants, Woodland PlantsI’ve been working on a Green Dragon drawing for the cover of NANPS’s summer issue of Blazing Star. There will be another of the spathe and spadix to do next. That one will be used in the article. Here’s the … Read the rest “A Green Dragon Drawing”
Written by
-
Ginseng Jelly – A Delicious Wild Ozark Luxury Product
Oh, my … GINSENG JELLY! I love medicinal herbs, especially those that grow right here at home, and most especially ginseng. This year’s ginseng jelly comes in two varieties: Ginseng Gold (4-oz, $25) Ginseng/Apple (8-oz, $25) Soft-set: thicker than syrup, … Read the rest “Ginseng Jelly – A Delicious Wild Ozark Luxury Product”
Written by
-
Driveway Flowers in September
It’s been bone dry lately. This morning I brought my camera with me so I could take pictures of the driveway flowers. Ordinarily this would have been an “exercise walk” and I wouldn’t have brought the camera because that would … Read the rest “Driveway Flowers in September”
Written by
-
Orange Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
In keeping with the “spotted” theme of my last post, here’s an orange spotted jewelweed flower. I’m always trying to get the perfect photo of this flower. A dream set-up would be when the sun is shining just *so* on … Read the rest “Orange Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)”
Written by
-
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) at the creek’s edge in late August. It’s one of the showiest Lobelia species that grows in the Arkansas Ozarks.
Written by