Category: Plants
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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”
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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?”
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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”
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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”
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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”
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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”
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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”
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Long Dirt Road: Why it Takes me an Hour to Drive 12 Miles
This is a post from a few years ago that I love, so I’m reposting it. We live down a long dirt road. This little facet of our lives is the main thing that makes or breaks most newcomers to … Read the rest “Long Dirt Road: Why it Takes me an Hour to Drive…
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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”
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Book Review | Tree Beings
Tree Beings, by Raymond Huber and Sandra SevergniniForward by Dr. Jane GoodallExisle Publishing This book is a review copy from the publisher. I chose this book to review because of the title. Right away, I identified with the … Read the rest “Book Review | Tree Beings”
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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”
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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”
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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”
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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”
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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”
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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”
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Plant Pigments- in search of a stable green, the latest painting and the next show
Between getting the house clean today, since it’s raining and I couldn’t be outside weed-eating, I’ve been making a mess in the kitchen. People have to not take things at face value in this house. What looks like refreshing tea… … Read the rest “Plant Pigments- in search of a stable green, the latest painting…
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The Color of a Plant Does Not Equal the Color of a Paint
I’ve been experimenting with local plants to get a nice, stable, green color for my handmade watercolor paints. Most of the things I’ve tried in my quest for green has resulted in gray or brown. Lamb’s Quarters, a common edible … Read the rest “The Color of a Plant Does Not Equal the Color of a…
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Oh no! The Virginia Snakeroot babies are all gone!
I went out to check on the Virginia snakeroot nursery the other day and was mortified to find nothing. Not. One. Plant. Virginia Snakeroot … What’s That? Now, you might be wondering just what’s so important about a plant that … Read the rest “Oh no! The Virginia Snakeroot babies are all gone!”
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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?”
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Enjoy Nature: Phlox and Fiddleheads
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.
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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”
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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”
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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!”
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