Take a Walk on the Wild Side

I thought I would take some pictures of things growing wild around here.  If interested take a walk with me. 

Last Saturday we had a big storm with 80 mph winds. After storms like that we usually have a lot of trees that fall that need to be cleaned up but we were lucky this tie and just had lots of branches down. 

I found a poor butterfly that looks like it lost part of its wings. It didn't seem to have any problems flying from one bee balm blossom to the next. 

Milkweed pops up here and there in the flower garden and I just let most of it grow in place for the monarchs.  It's that tall plant on the left hand side of the photo. 

I've seen several monarchs around but never when I'm taking pictures. 

This year it also popped up in the veggie garden and it looks like it planted itself all in a row next to my strawberry patch.  

After the storm all the milkweed fell over so I had to stake it all up even though I felt like pulling it all up.  

I think those are wild oyster mushrooms growing on a log from a tree that fell last year that I used to prop up a trellis that needed a little extra support. 

Black raspberries also pop up here and there on the property and I try to keep them contained in four patches. 

The rain made them nice and plump for picking.  I think I now have enough in the freezer to make a batch of jam when the weather is cooler. I'm going to strain out the seeds this year when I make it.  I've used grandma's recipe to make a raspberry cobbler that we ate warm with ice cream. 

I'm really surprised that the birds don't eat all the raspberries.  Actually with all the free range cats around here I'm surprised there are any birds. 

Wild Larkspur is another thing that popped up in the flower garden a few years ago. I let it grow in some places but it is rather invasive. 

The flowers are blue and look a lot like the larkspur I planted but that has not bloomed yet. The larkspur I'm growing from seed will be in different colors. I used to grow  lot of it and dry it. 

Another thing that grows wild around here along the field fence lines is Joe Pye Weed. Several years ago a patch popped up in my flower garden so I left it alone. Now it is rather invasive so I pull a lot of it up. 

Usually it is covered with Tiger Swallowtails but I have not seen any yet this year. Maybe it is too early for them. 

Fleabane is another thing growing wild around here in places.  I think they make a nice filler in a bouquet. 

I let Queen Anne's Lace or Wild Carrot grow here and there around the property but dug most of it out of the flower gardens because it was too invasive.  I think they are pretty, though. 

And speaking of invasive...how about an invasion of Marshmallows? It's the tall plants on the left and right. I actually grew them from seeds about thirty years ago and have not been able to get rid of them. They pop up here and there and before you know it they are five feet tall. I originally had the crazy idea that it would be fun to make actual marshmallows from marshmallow with the kids when they were younger. Then I had second thoughts when I saw all the work involved.  Really...read up on the history of marshmallows. They were made with the marshmallow plant you see above. 

And speaking of wild and crazy here's Poindeckster. 

We give him something different for hair every year. 

Hope you enjoyed the walk in the wild side. 

Now I'm walking into the sewing room. It's kind of wild in there too.