Through the wheel of the year I collect plants iconic to the season and area I live in. I dry them and create blends that I use as offerings for a variety of reasons. I've been using a lot of "Spring" to help the earth warm up as we prepare to leave winter. A simple practice but a devotional one as well. Each one smells SO different!

I found this plant on a walk in Portland and discovered that not only is it poisonous but it's also an invasive species in my area! >.<

It looked like a "tentacle" plant to me!

While taking a nature walk with my husband and son we explored the wetlands looking for wildlife. We found this beautiful bull frog and TONS of huge tadpoles (I couldn't catch them in a photo though as the water was murky). Always amazing to pay attention to the silent wildlife around us. I couldn't get over how huge this frog was! Such a beautiful creature.

I'm trying to learn the various trees on the cemetery this summer. We are off to a good start!

This post is not current, but I think it will be useful here. A year ago (August 3rd 2014 to be exact) some friends and I hiked Saddle Mountain in Oregon and I took a lot of photos of various flowers and berries to identify. Here are the ones I could identify easily fairly easily. 

Today on my walk I discovered lots of this orange powedry stuff on several types of plants at random. Upon researching, I believe this is Rust Fungi. Rust Fungi is found in areas of high moisture and I was around a wetland area so it does seem fitting. Such a fascinating neon powdery fungi! 

The second new to me flower discovered today was a Cape Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). Another plant that is fond of moist areas (hello wetlands!). From my limited research I have discovered these can be used for dyes, and the herbs have an acrid, burning taste and act strongly as emetics, cathartics and diuretics, but are considered dangerous, their use having been termed 'wholly questionable.' They also have the nickname the "Spotted touch-me-not". They look like the most beautiful little delicate sunbursts!