The Through the Seasons Wild Plant Walk Series features ethnobotanist Patricia Armstrong.
Film production of the series was envisioned and facilitated by Linda Conroy of Moonwise Herbs/Midwest Women's Herbal.
It was filmed and edited by Shari Ralish as part of her Herbal Internship with Moonwise Herbs.
To learn more about Patricia Armstrong and her work visit: www.patriciakarmstrong.com
To Learn more about herbalist Linda Conroy visit: www.moonwiseherbs.com
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MAY: The May walk takes place at Knoch Knolls Park in South Naperville, IL, which is a mesic forest between the two branches of the DuPage River. We will be learning about common woodland trees, woodland wildflowers, and invasive weeds. Some of the plants we will see are: Basswood, Slippery Elm, Hackberry, and Black Locust trees. Wildflowers include: May Apple, Smooth Sweet Cicely, Virginia Bluebells, Waterleafs, Toothwort, Solomon’s Seal, and Wood Nettle. And weeds include: Common Orach, Lamb’s Quarters, Yellow Rocket, and Garlic Mustard.
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JUNE: The June walk takes place at Greene Valley Forest Preserve in East Naperville, IL, where DuPage County is returning old farm land back to native habitats. We will see old fields, savannas, woodland edges, prairie restorations, and some streams and wet areas. We will expect to see at least 7 different woody plants, including: Roses, Hazelnuts, Crab Apples, and Hawthorns. Seven wildflowers and weeds will include: Cattails, Sweet Clovers, Red Clover, Milkweed, Dog Bane, Thistles, Yarrow, and Bee Balm. There are many edible berry plants also: Juneberry, Wild Strawberry, Black Raspberry, Blackberry, Elderberry, and Wild Grapes.
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JULY: The July walk takes place at Prairie Sun (the instructor’s yard) where we’ll see 10 edible trees and shrubs, 10 edible prairie plants and 10 edible weeds and herbs. Some of the woody plants are: Pawpaw, Shag Bark Hickory, Black Walnut, Purple- flowering Raspberry, and Pecan. Some of the prairie plants are: Switch Grass, Prairie Dock, Pale Purple Coneflower, Oswego Tea, Mountain Mint, and Prickly Pear Cactus, and some of the edible weeds are: Purslane, Dame’s Rocket, Orange Day Lily, Chicory, and Ox-eye Daisy.
Patricia Armstrong has a Master of Science degree from the University of Chicago in Ecology (Biology-Botany). She previously taught multitudes of nature classes at the Morton Arboretum for 16 years, plus Botany, Ecology, and Geology at the University of Wisconsin Extension, and Michigan State University's Juneau Icefield Research Program in Alaska.
Pat's knowledge and understanding of all things wild and free come from a life-long personal and intimate relationship with Nature that is passionate as well as scientific. She lives in a home she and her husband designed and built to fit into the natural ecosystems of northern Illinois. It is active and passive solar, energy-efficient, and landscaped with over 300 species of native trees, shrubs, prairie grasses and wildflowers approximately 40% of which are edible.
Pat is actively involved in living joyfully with Nature. She runs a consulting firm, PRAIRIE SUN CONSULTANTS, to educate and assist others in appreciating and using native plants and wild edible plants in home landscaping.
For more information about Pat visit her website HERE.