WriterByNature.com

March 16, 2008 5:43 am

This is another indoor nature activity.

A good time to do this is late winter, before the trees wake up.

(more…)

September 2, 2007 4:37 pm

I don’t know what made the rhododendron outside my apartment window bloom.

But it’s nice to see.

It has been a sunny, but cool and low-humidity day, making it perfect for a hike.

(more…)

August 15, 2007 1:54 am

I knew that indigo, marigold, and walnut, among others, make excellent fabric dyes. I now know that the following plants also make excellent dyes:

1. Bergamot
2. Bloodroot
3. Coltsfoot
4. Coreopsis
5. Echinacea
6. Yarrow

I also learned that cream of tartar works to keep colors from bleeding and it’s safer than alum. Read on for a basic recipe on how to make dyes from plants: (more…)

August 13, 2007 3:53 am

Organizer Nicole Carman is a genius. This event brought 182 participants to Mt. Pisgah State Park to participate in events ranging from kayaking and horseback riding to firearms, ATV safety, and wild game cooking.

If you can do it in the outdoors, there was someone to teach you how in a mini-workshop. I learned about WITO from my friend, Bird Lady, who attended as a participant this year, rather than a presenter. (more…)

July 27, 2007 1:11 pm

Rain, heat and humidity are just what mushrooms need. I added my morning harvest of gem studded puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum)

And oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus)

to other sautéed veggies for a tasty lunch.

(more…)

July 26, 2007 2:33 pm

Enjoying nature is in the little things, like this insect (I think it’s a firefly) on a laurel node. Dawn and dusk are the best times for hiking; that’s when I see the most wildlife activity. (more…)

July 5, 2007 2:02 am

Day lily flowers are so named because they live for one day.

These showy flowers make an excellent table presentation. The buds and roots, which are also edible, can be frozen or dried for future use.

My recipe for stuffing:

(more…)

June 21, 2007 9:48 am

My early morning nature hikes make me feel like I am in a holy place. With images like this, what other way is there to see the natural world? (more…)

June 18, 2007 4:03 pm

I tried to freeze violet blossoms for future use. My only real success in terms of preserving the shape of the blossom was in my violet blossom ice cubes.

I dipped each blossom in sugar, then froze them on a plastic-lined cookie sheet for 24 hours before adding them to the water in the ice cube tray. (more…)

June 7, 2007 8:22 pm

Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) buds and unripe seed pods are the only palatable parts of this plant.

The buds open quickly, so harvest the tiniest ones immediately.

(more…)