4/8, Sunday, drizzle. I arrived early today at Hoyt Arboretum for the guided walk at noon. Only 3 women showed up. We really enjoyed today's walk with volunteer guide Roland, so much so, that we ended around 1:45pm instead of just in one hour. Roland first gave each us a sheet of ethnobotany references (books and websites). He carried 3 books a numerous color printout of illustrations. Here's what I learned (of no particular order):o) Smelt is very oily, so much so, the native tribe would use it like candle. First fresh food after winter.
o) Dock and Plantine, both very common, and often by the road, are anti-inflammatory. Spit on the leaf, use saliva to release the enzyme to treat sting/burn/wound.
o) Western Red Cedar has easily splittable wood, water proof. Red Cedar plants were made to roof, canoe, and drinking vessel. Bark is pliable, the inner bark can be so soft, that was used as diaper.
o) Ocean Spray has very tough twigs, used to make sticks and spears.
We tasted the yellow flower of Oregon Grape (bitter), white flower of maple (no taste), smelled the white flower of Indian Plum (like cat litter!), wild ginger smells good. Trillium and Wood Violets are popping up everywhere.After waiting for the shuttle for 5 minutes, I walked down hill to town.
