Plants – Consumable Earth

Strawflower

By keco86 | August 29, 2024August 29, 2024 by keco86

Helichrysum bracteatum ‘used in traditional medicine to treat cough, back pain, diabetes, asthma, digestive problems, menstrual pain, chest pain, kidney disorders, skin disorders, wounds, open sores, among other conditions’ “some Helichrysum plant parts are either consumed as teas or prepared as “burnt offering” smoke to disinfect the abodes of sick patients and to appeal for blessings from the ancestors in indigenous traditional practices [2]. In general, plants of this genus are known to be used in traditional…

Plants

Ponderosa Pine

By keco86 | March 1, 2024February 28, 2024 by keco86

Scientific name: Pinus ponderosa French name: Pin ponderosa Secwepemc name: s7etqwllppronounced sss et-kw-eech-p Other names: Yellow pine Folklore:How Beaver Stole Fire from the Pine Tree Fun fact: “On a hot day, the bark of the ponderosa pine smells like vanilla and when you break a young twig it smells somewhat like oranges.” BC Gov The bones of these iconic trees are scattered across our dry desert landscapes. The story of their death is traced…

Plants

Birch

By keco86 | February 23, 2024February 28, 2024 by keco86

There are several species of birch in our region with all being part of the Betulacae family which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. The largest and most easily recognized are the paper birch which can reach heights of 30-40m tall. They routinely hybridize with other species of birch, most commonly with water birch which are much smaller and more shrub like. Others are scrub birch aka bog birch and swamp birch aka dwarf birch…

Plants

Rocky Mountain Juniper

By keco86 | February 16, 2024February 25, 2024 by keco86

Plants

Black Cottonwood

By keco86 | February 9, 2024February 25, 2024 by keco86

This tree figures largely in our local landscape it is widespread and extremely common; you already know this plant even if you don’t know its name because of its impact in our everyday lives. If you’ve walked along a riverside trail in the springtime you’ve likely gone home with sticky little shells all over the bottoms of your shoes; they are cottonwood buds. Or later in the spring you’ve probably seen little white tufts of…