by Sue Ann Kendall
I had a magical nature adventure on my own property yesterday!
I was delighted to discover that the woodland floor next to our house was covered in charming little flowers. I’d never seen them before, even though I walk in these woods often each spring, because I’m noting when different plants and birds come and go.
I had to look them up as soon as I went inside after my birding break. Their name was as lovely as their appearance: Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica). I happily read the excerpt of a longer article that appears in iNaturalist as had to giggle when I saw that one of their other common names is Fairy Spud. I had to learn more.
It turns out that the plants grow from tubers that were eaten by many indigenous people in the eastern US, you know, like potatoes! They were thought to cure convulsions and/or prevent conception. I assume the latter didn’t work well, since people ate it a lot. The whole plant is edible, but the Wikipedia article noted that the leaves are “not choice eating.”
Now, here’s a mystery. Today it’s much cooler and very windy. I went out to see my little flowers, but lo and behold, I couldn’t find them. I hope they come back!
Nature Along the El Camino Real 