topic Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL in Community Chat

VIOLET WOOD SORREL

cheriere — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 16:09:28 GMT

Here's a purple perennial flowering plant and herb rich in folklore and magic. Native to the Eastern & Central US, this one's a winner! I found these close to home growing alongside an old wooden shed. I also spotted more along my walk.

Although delicate & beautiful, it can be used as natural pest management for gardens. It spreads preventing soil erosion and weed invasion. This makes it a gardeners ally to maintain pristine landscapes. It's a hardy survivor providing more than ornamental value. Pollinators love it too.💜

Most interesting though is something I learned in regards to eating it. Extremely rich in Vitamin C, ALL PARTS of this plant are EDIBLE: flowers, leaves, stems and bulbs.

It's said to be very citrusy & can be added to salads or as a garnish. However, the beautiful flowers are often added to fancy desserts & drinks to add a pop of color as well as a citrusy spark!

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

cheriere — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 16:17:36 GMT

I should've also added, I ate a few of the flowers. They do taste citrusy, not bad!💜

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

On It — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 16:17:58 GMT

@cheriere Lovely photos of a most interesting plant. I have never seen or heard of it. I wish I had some to eat. I am thinking a line of them in the flower beds around the house might be better than pest control companies. Thank you for teaching me something new today.

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

cheriere — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 16:22:59 GMT

@On It

Thank you 😊💜

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying finding these flowers on my walks. I didn't know just how much they are supposed to help with pests until I got to reading about them lol.

Theyre really pretty too. I think you'd like them. Just make sure you look up Violet Wood Sorrel, because I also ran across another sorrel species in my walks. It has beautiful yellow flowers. I haven't done my research on it yet lol.

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

OneHappyHiker — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 17:12:33 GMT

@cheriere You are spoiling us here with all these gorgeous pictures of flowers I know I will never see lol. I can't believe the abundance of beauty..... yet those elusive morels are no where to be found - yet! All your efforts to feed your family morels is paying off in spectacular and fun finds! The morels will be found eventually! Those flowers would be SO pretty on top of just about anything. Thanks again for brightening up this forum

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

cheriere — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 17:37:31 GMT

@OneHappyHiker

I really appreciate your saying this, thank you so much.😊💜

I was afraid of posting too many flowers I've been finding because there's more to come lol. I'm learning so much myself with things I didn't know about many of these.

There's such an abundance of all types of plants and flora in the forests where I live, it's been compared to the rainforest. Many have never been documented, so people come here to study all the time.

Ugh, those elusive morels....

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

PA Mom-mom — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 17:40:08 GMT

@cheriere These are so beautiful! I also love the leaves. Thanks, and keep posting your pictures. They are enjoyable, and your information is very helpful.

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

cheriere — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 17:45:28 GMT

@PA Mom-mom

Thank you, I really appreciate your saying that.😊💜

I'm glad you mentioned the leaves. Many might mistake them as a clover because they have three leaves. When I looked closely, I noticed these are always heart shaped. So that's a good way to spot these.

I'm really enjoying finding these plants and learning more about them.💜

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

goldensrbest — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 17:52:43 GMT

Really pretty, never seen that before enjoying seeing your photos.

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

cheriere — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 17:54:48 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
Really pretty, never seen that before enjoying seeing your photos.

Thank you so much.😊💜

I'm really enjoying taking them & learning.

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

magicmoodz — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 18:51:33 GMT

Hi ½@cheriere

You have been finding some very pretty and interesting species on your nature walks. I enjoy seeing them. Have you spotted any morel mushrooms yet? I hope so.

I was at one of my co-ops a few days ago and when I saw these mushrooms I couldn't help but think of you. I should have put something next to them for size comparison to show you just how huge they are.

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

luvzchiz — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 19:03:32 GMT

@cheriere Thank you for your beautiful plants and knowledge. I am learning so much!

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

Icegoddess — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 19:40:42 GMT

This, along with the yellow Wood Sorrel are native Oxalis, as opposed to the larger-leaved one with the purple leaves I have in my garden. I currently have a cage over it, and many of my hostas, to keep the rabbit from eating them.

The violet wood sorrel is also a threatened species in the state of NY. There's another one, Oxalis montana, which has light pink flowers with darker pink stripes and reddish leaves.

Back to the yellow Wood Sorrel, O stricta. It's basically considered a weed and is more prolific than the other other two Oxalis species. It gets these little seed pods that violently ejects the seeds. They are edible since I used to eat them when I was a child. They have a sour taste, and thus the common name of sour grass or pickle plant. I haven't seen anything about it deterring any pests.

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

OneHappyHiker — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 20:15:05 GMT

@cheriere wrote:
@OneHappyHiker

There's such an abundance of all types of plants and flora in the forests where I live, it's been compared to the rainforest. Many have never been documented, so people come here to study all the time.

Ugh, those elusive morels.... LOL!

@cheriere SO impressive! No wonder you have been able to find so many gorgeous flowers! Thanks so much once again for posting! No worries... we can never have too many pictures of Nature which we don't get to see!!!

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

cheriere — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 21:00:09 GMT

@magicmoodz

Oh WOW! What a variety of mushrooms! I'd LOVE ❤️ to be able to find or have access to all those! The second row looks like what we call hickory chickens / morels.

Im so happy you posted these, thank you.❤️

It's nice to know you thought of me when you saw these mushrooms.😊🍄‍🟫🍄‍🟫

Unfortunately, I haven't had any luck. I don't understand it either?? We've always had them in a certain spot in the woods. I'm wondering if someone might've been on our property picking some.

We have around 100 acres here with the house. The way our woods border the mountain with other property, we've had people over here before hunting ginseng. I sure hope that's not the case.😔

Im still not giving up! I just spent about 3 hours out this afternoon searching. I did find some other interesting plants. For that, I'm thankful. 🌸

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

cheriere — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 21:04:42 GMT

@luvzchiz wrote:
@cheriere Thank you for your beautiful plants and knowledge. I am learning so much!

I really appreciate your saying that, thank you.😊❤️

I'm really enjoying my walks hunting for those elusive hickory chicken mushrooms this year. Instead, I'm finding the beauty in flowering plants and herbs I've always just taken for granted.

I'm learning more than what I knew about them too. I hope you like the pics because I have many more to post. I'm just trying to research each a little better before I share them. Thanks again.💝

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

cheriere — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 21:15:15 GMT

@Icegoddess

Yes, I've found two different types of the yellow wood sorrel I've yet to post. It's so interesting to learn things about these herbs and plants that wasn't in my "mountain girl" knowledge base.

I didn't know the Violet Wood Sorrel is threatened where you live. I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully, this can be changed. I'm checking the endangered species list in my state as I find each plant.

That's funny about your eating the seed pods as a child. Didn't we all like to try these things as kids? We never even considered danger.

I think I've found myself a new hobby lol. Even if I don't find the mushrooms that initially got me out looking, I've found some great plants & got a lot of good exercise.

Thanks for posting. I really appreciate your sharing in this thread.😊💜

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

Enufstuff — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 21:38:25 GMT

@cheriere You have captured more beauty from Mother Nature.

Thank you for sharing your lovely pictures with us.

These Violet Wood Sorrel flowers are so pretty and delicate looking. I like the heart shaped leaves. The clusters of three leaves look like clover or shamrocks.

That last picture is so pretty with the drops of dew on the petals. Your flowers would be great subjects for water color paintings, framed photos or as I mentioned before, on note cards.

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

cheriere — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 21:45:06 GMT

I truly appreciate your saying that.💝🌸

I'm really happy you like my pics. I'm capturing more everyday. I know a little about most, but nothing compared to what I thought.

Ive learned so much researching each before posting. I love ❤️taking the pictures too. I think this may be a hobby for me. Im getting a lot of exercise too lol.

I took your idea about making notecards and started a notebook, albeit rough. I'd love to print a lot of these flowers. I'm not sure I'd be so great at painting, but it would fun to try. I haven't worked with watercolor since college.

Thank you for responding to my thread. I'll have more pics to come.😊🌸🦋

Re: VIOLET WOOD SORREL

Icegoddess — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 22:37:03 GMT

@cheriere I don't live in NY. I just noted that the Violet Wood Sorrel was threatened there. I live in The South.