Time is aflying!

Dogwood blossom

I don't know how two weeks have disappeared but that's life, isn't it.  Just when you think you have control of everything you have control of nothing at all.  Well, my disappearance hasn't interupted spring, has it?  No matter where you look, something new is erupting from the earth; flying overhead; or on the breeze.   And, true to form, March has come in like a lamb and is now chilly -- hopefully only for a day or two.



Shortly, Dr. Mary Meyer will be taking folks on a fascinating walk through the woods over there on Kennesaw Mt.  With spring being early, it is difficult to say what she will find.  I did notice that the dead nettles are up, the Dog Wood in bloom, and the cleavers tacky green and waiting.  Meyer has a CD out entitled "Wildflowers of Kennesaw Mountain and North Georgia" that has some great pictures on it.  She not only provides the name of plants but explains some of their uses.  It's listed in a number of places but this site is also useful for other happenings, history etc. in Georgia.   So this link serves more than one purpose.  http://ngeorgia.com/business/wildflowerCD.html



Cleavers



And now, because you know I love to eat the weeds....  How about a pot of cleavers.  Just grab yourself a handful.  Wash them off thoroughly but do not drain.  Chop them up and slip them into a fry pan that has a small clove of chopped garlic or teaspoon of onions....  Stir them around with or without a lid, depending on the level of starvation you are experiencing.... and eat with a bit of salt and pepper.



Dead nettles



On the other hand, if you come across a field of dead nettles and are in the mood,  you can treat them the same way as the cleavers. 

OR.... you dry them for another day; crumble them up and brew yourself a coffee-like tea.  Dead nettles are in the mint family -- not like they taste minty -- they just have a hollow,square stem like all the mints.  Either way you are getting a good dose of lovely greens complete with vitamins and minerals.  Too, they don't have pesticides or fertilizer on them so they are naturally organic if you don't pick them by a roadway (and I'd never do this under any circumstance as there is lead in the exhaust fumes of motor vehicles).

Bon apetite'