The meadow is full of life.
Butterflies and bees flit among the milkweed blossoms. I remember my first summer at Paul Smith’s and biking along the sandy trails and roadsides. Milkweed grew rampantly and I was intoxicated by the sweet smell. It’s beautiful how a fragrance can transport you through time.
There is much beauty and potential in our plot of land. We have many wild edibles and plants with medicinal properties.
Here are five great plants in our backyard:
Mullein herb: Part of the snapdragon family. Dried stalk can be used for a hand drill in starting fires.
Milkweed: The shoots are edible in early spring and the blossom buds are delicious in salads or stir fry’s before they blossom. Be careful consuming milkweed, because not all parts of the plant are edible. It’s great for attracting monarch butterflies. The plant is fibrous, and in the fall can be used to make cordage (natural rope).
Saint John’s wort: Medicinal Plant with anti-depressant properties.
And plenty of blueberries and raspberries.
I’m disabled. I live down the river or road from you. I live on the St Regis River in St Regis Falls. I’m worried about the monarch butterflies, so I’m looking for milkweed seeds and other plants that are beneficial to them.