We’ve got several uninvited guests to the garden party, and for a while didn’t know who any of them were (well, we're more like the uninvited guests, since many of them were here before us!). We picked up this book – Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast – a great field guide by Peter Del Tredici that helped us to identify several of these visitors and learn more about them. We highly recommend this easy to use field guide, as it has opened our eyes to plants we've seen every single day, but can't name. Here are some we found (there are definitely many more) pictured below with a brief description of uses as provided by the field guide: Jewelweed, Pokeberry, Yellow Nutsedge, White Campion, Pale Smartweed, Lambsquarters, Purslane, Dandelion, Greater Celandine, Spotted Spurge, Bittersweet Nightshade, Wild Mint, Yellow Woodsorrel, Fireweed, and Garlic Mustard. We've also seen (but don't picture) Yellow Flag Iris, Bindweed and many others. So far we've eaten Dandelion greens, garlic mustard, purslane, and played a lot with the exploding seed pods of the jewelweed. What wild plants have you found in your area that you find particularly useful?
2 Comments
Mark
9/16/2012 12:44:31 am
Thanks for sharing this :) You just helped me identify a few in my back yard that have had me stumped for awhile.
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rachel
9/16/2012 10:35:25 am
I'm a big fan of purslane, dandelion, goosefoot- wild spinach- lamb's quarters- yummy and good for you. I also love eating wild garlic mustard- BUT- it is on the invasive species list and really, unless planned and contained- should be pulled. Same for greater celadine, bittersweets, and spurges. Grow them thoughtfully- but don't let them into the native landscapes.
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