Plants also have histories, and some of them are spectacular.  During the next 2-3 months I hope to make a short exploration into the medicinal uses humans have made of certain plants.  Some of them, e.g., the western yarrow prairie wildflower have had a significant impact upon human life.  The western yarrow, mentioned in last month’s OE article, found in our MLH prairie, and which begins blooming in early or mid-summer, is a member of a famous plant group.  One or another species from this group can be found in prairies, meadows, and open woods on all northern continents.

don_rasmussen.mp4

A must read for people with Parkinson's Disease. The eight (8) page pamphlet is available to download and print for reference. You can also view a 35 minute presentation by the author Don Rasmussen covering similar material.  

Submitted by Alice Roper

 From my window looking north, this is what I see.

 Melted marshmallow clouds drift across the blue skies.  The distant hills are turning from brown to green.

Trees that have been skeletons are beginning to leaf out, each on their schedule.  Cedar trees show their true ragged branches.  Not at all like the ones on Christmas cards.

Birds fly by in threes.  Is this some kind of mating?   Sometimes they dip down for a drink of water from the pond.

We are in The Great Unfolding of Spring, a most appropriate time for learning to have Nature come to us rather than always believing we have to go to Nature. Our Natural Area can show us many of these “unfoldings.” Just pick a nature-filled place and sit quietly, look carefully, and listen intently—as if you were studying pores in a brick instead of the whole wall.