Wild October Foraging

A day predicted to bring thunderstorms seemed an auspicious time to go have a look at the river. The drama of the changing sky was delightful. The rain came in segments interspersed with brilliant times of sunshine.

There were himalayan blackberries still solid and sweet at the lake. On Upper Deer Creek there were elderberries and milkweed seed pods. I collected about six.

The beaders among us have been known to use these myrtle nuts for necklaces and bracelets.

You can read, on the net, about how important to the monarch butterfly it is for us to plant these seeds for them. Go to.....www.butterflyencounter.com.

Just putting in the request "milkweed seed" will get you lots of information.

Earlier in the season I think Els has made elderberry lemonade?? out of the flowers.



The West Fork of the Illinois above OBrien is a totally different place than the East Fork at Takilma. There were azaleas blooming and the largest hoods of darlingtonia I have ever seen. There was a small white flower????blooming right in the running water of the fen. It looked like a small white marsh marigold. The river falls off the steep mountain. The rocks in the watercourse are boulders. The ash and willows have yet to hit the peak of their color as the river levels out and slows down in this section.

I swear these looked like people to me --- all gathered up and having a great time visiting.

Ah, certainly frosting on the cake of a fine day............smelling the fragrance of azalea one more time this season.

My favorite color might be what this azalea is sporting just now.

The tops of the mountains south of town had the first dusting of snow. We need to get busy.....all those apple trees with red and yellow bounty still hanging on them..............................