Mountain Herbalist:
Spring Flowers for the Soul, the Supper Table or Medicine
By L.C. Moon
I am so excited to feel the sunshine, see all the spring flowers and watch the leaves sprout their beautiful spring green color. Lots of rain and sunshine have blessed us this spring, raising our water levels and sending the botanicals into a blooming frenzy!
All of nature awakening is exciting me! The layers of green cascading across the landscape throughout April are reminiscent of the colors of fall. Rather than a falling away of the color as in the fall, the spring is a deepening of color and an explosion of blooms.
Driving up the mountain in April you see edible blooms of the redbuds within the first week of May, dogwoods (having a bark used similar to quinine) following during the second week and then wisteria will not be far behind trailing through the canopy. Along the river and roadsides you will see wild azaleas and many varieties of edible violet blooms. As you read this article in May, you may have missed some of the early spring blooms; though May is equally as brilliant.
It is the second week in April while I am writing this article. I am looking ahead in my mind’s eye to see all of the beauty awaiting us. The rhododendrons and mountain laurels are the most well known showy blooms on the mountain and a favorite of many.
Along the water’s edge, your soul can be fed by the relaxing sounds of the Little River and the majestic beauty of the immense mountain laurel and rhododendron blooms during the month of May. Some of the mountain laurel and a few of the rhododendron may also be around in June. Normally I write about how the plants can be used as medicine or food- though for these Bay relatives, it is important to only let them be food for the soul. They are both very toxic. Native Americans knew mountain laurel as the suicide plant.
However, when it comes to edible plants of Lookout Mountain there are many blooms which bless us in the spring which in turn bless us with fruits in the summer. For instance the paw paw, blackberry, dewberry and elderberry add to the early spring color and the anticipation of the wild summer fruits.
Wild fruits are a perfect survival food, luxury food for foraging as well as having medicinal uses. Berries- as many know- are filled with antioxidants. Muscadine, while it does not have a very showy bloom, has some of the highest antioxidant properties of any berry.
Elderberry blooms can be used as fritters when battered and fried. They are a great remedy to prevent or treat a virus. I have also had a lot of luck with elderberry for coughs. Jellies, jams and wine can also be made from the berries.
Blackberry and dewberry can be used to ease digestive problems such as diarrhea. Blueberries & huckleberries are great for people with diabetes or urinary tract infections. Whether you choose to eat the berries or drink a tea of the leaves, it will help diabetes. However for a urinary tract infection you should eat the fruits to treat or prevent an infection the same way as you would ingest cranberries; both cranberries and blueberries create an environment in the bladder that prevents the growth of the bacteria.
The native paw paw is a small edible fruit, if you can get it before the raccoons! Paw paw has a custard flavored flesh. After you eat the flesh, you can grind the large poisonous seed into a powder for an insecticide. In the early times it was used to rid lice problems, and yes, the seed is also poisonous to humans.
From berries to blooms and greens Lookout Mountain nourishes us. Ox eye daisies and red clover are showy edible and medicinal plants standing beautiful along the roadsides and in fields. The red clover blooms can be used to help create beautiful skin and heal skin rash. It is known to help cleanse the blood and body of toxins. Red clover is good for PMS and menopausal symptoms; reducing hot flashes and risk of osteoporosis. It has been said that red clover can reduce LDL (bad cholesterol). The leaves of red clover and ox eye daisy add a unique flavor to a salad. Ox eye daisy leaves are edible and very sweet tasting.
While the following do not have a bloom to catch your attention; they are a great value to have in your lawn. Corn salad (also known as Valerianella) and lamb’s quarter are some of my favorite spring greens to nibble upon. Corn Salad is very inconspicuous, growing only an average of about 4-8 inches tall with oblong stalkless leaves opposite each other with small flat clusters of tiny white blooms. Lamb’s quarter (Chenopodium album) has a scalloped somewhat diamond shaped white dusted leaf with tiny blooms. It grows up to six feet tall though more commonly around three feet tall. One key distinguishing factor is at the base of the leaf you will find tiny red streaks.
The heart can also be treated from the mountain woods. The beautiful white blooms of the hawthorn tree smell so lovely and are in full bloom about the second week of April. Hawthorn is known to reduce cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and aid the heart muscle. I personally know of many people who benefit from hawthorn, even if just drinking a cup of tea daily. However, if you are taking heart disease medication it is not recommended to take hawthorn.
Last but not least, along the water’s edge solomon’s seal and false solomon’s seal are unassuming yet beautiful sought after blooms. Both have white blooms, the false has blooms that come of the top of a single stalk while the true solomon’s seal blooms at the axils of the leaves. They are both in the lily family and actually do have similar uses. Both can be used for female imbalances, coughs and as a laxative.
The spring is a treasure trove of botanical blessings on Lookout Mountain. There are so many blooms and botanicals sprouting life under foot and over head that I could write a book- and so I am. It will be a guide to native plants and the herbs I most commonly use; the book is entitled Moon’s Medicine Chest. For now you will have to catch my articles online and in the Groundhog while I finish my book, Experiencing Life Barefoot.
I look forward to sharing more information throughout the year. If you would like to a guided plant walk, I will be leading free walks “Wildflower Saturday” at DeSoto State Park the first weekend in May- thanks to naturalist Brittany Hughes. I have been asked to do more free walks at DeSoto State Park though no dates have yet been set.
I will be doing private walks/workshops if anyone is interest in a more in depth look at the plants up close and personal. I also offer plant walks at your home or property to identify what you have available on your land. Call me at (256) 634-0066 and ask for “Moon” before 11 AM or between 2 PM & 4 PM any day of the week or email me at LCMoon03@aol.com. I hope the plants bless you as much as they are me though it is wise for me to tell you to consult your health care provider before making any changes to your health care regimen.
Wildflower is hosting a fabulous New Year’s Eve Celebration!
Wildflower’s celebration will include an Entree Buffet with Shaved Filet Tenderloin, Smothered Chicken, Garlic Smashed Potatoes, Sauteed Veggies, Hoppin John, Shrimp Grits, and more… Plus Hours D’ oeuvres, Desserts and Entertainment!
You have two celebrations to choose from on New Year’s Eve;
New Year’s Eve First Seating allows for reserving your own private table for you and your guests.
The Second Seating is all about the celebration- there will be plenty of seating for everyone though your table is first come first serve- first come, first choosing of the table. Everyone will have great fun getting to know each other.
The First Seating begins at 4:30 PM.
Dinner is served at 5PM with Entree Buffet open til 5:45 PM.
We suggest reservations and buying tickets in advance though walk ins are welcome;
we will get you in if we can fit you in.
First Seating Entertainment is music performed by local Matthew Croxton;beginning at 5:30 and playing til 6:15.
Matthew Croxton plays a blend of fun ’60’s & 70’s tunes blending in popular favorites up to present day.
Croxton’s melodic vocals compliment his great talent on guitar. He delivers a performance which is as good as the original performers of any of the songs he plays; such as Dave Matthews, Goo Goo Dolls, Old Crow Medicine Show, Johnny Cash, Crosby, Stills & Nash, etc…
The first seating of evening will commense at 6:45 PM so we can prepare for the second seating.
First Seating is $40 per person or $75 per couple if tickets are purchased before the 30th of January.
If purchased on the 30th or 31st- then the tickets will be $40 per person.
Seating is limited so get your tickets today!
The Second Seating Celebration begins at 7:15 PM.
Dinner served at 7:45 with Entree Buffet open til 8:30 PM
while Hors D’oeurves and Desserts will be available into the night.
Matthew Croxton (description of music style above) is playing a set from 8:15 until 9PM.
The Circle of Friends begins at approx 9:30 playing throughout the evening to ring in the NEW YEAR!
Second Seating Celebration will experience the Circle of Friends, music, food and dancing with lights out at 1 AM.
Tickets will be sold for $50 for each person attending!
Wildflower isn’t taking reservations for specific tables though is selling advance tickets.
Seating is limited so please get your tickets today!
Circle of Friends is a group of very talented local musicians who will entertain like you have never been before;
Guitar, mandolin, drums, dulcimer, saxophone, harmonica, tamborine, spoons, banjo, keyboards, lots of vocals and
who knows what else exciting may show up! We hope to create room for dancing as well!
If you have an instrument and want to join in the music feel free to bring it along!
Check out our Website for more details on the Circle of Friends! www.MentoneWildflower.com/entertainment.htm
Check out the Wildflower’s Website to see the incredible music line up for December 2009!
We are excited about the Southern Living article. It is going to be a good sized feature in October 2009 issue with some great photos. The October issue will actually come out toward the end of September. They decided to run the Wildflower article in the October issue because they would be able to give us more coverage though it is only going to be in the Southern Living Magazines purchased in AL because we are in the Alabama section- so North Carolina has the North Carolina section, Georgia the Georgia section, etc. However if you would like a copy of the Alabama version of Southern Living you can call Christy Coleman at 1-800-366-4712 ext 6215.
We plan to have fun at the Wildflower as well as provide incredible delicious food! On Halloween the Cafe will dress up as El Flora Loco “The Crazy Flower”. We will serve Mexican Cuisine and all working will be dressed the part on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights of Halloween Weekend with Mexican Lunch Specials during the day! If you come dressed in any costume we will enter you in the drawing for a free dinner! There are more of events in the works and we will update the Website soon! If you have any ideas, Please post it on our blog!
Please post your Wildflower Experiences whether it is a dining experience, a musical experience, about friends you have made at the Wildflower Cafe, etc. Ask questions you may have here; though if it is time sensitive questions please call the Wildflower at (256) 634-0066. Thanks, Moon and Chef Ben
Thanks for stopping by. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be adding more content, articles and news from the Mentone Wildflower. Please feel free to let us know what you think! We would love for you to post your Wildflower dining experiences under Wildflower Dining Section.