Please remember that Forage Friday is presented as trivia and not to be mistaken for medical advice. A little extra caution is to be observed when foraging members of the carrot family. There are poisonous plants like hemlock that are often found growing in the same area.
At the time of writing this article in mid January 2021 my world is covered in ice. But when I do venture out into the frost coated wilderness I can already see the earth showing signs of preparing to receive the coming changes. The throw of the frost is making ready for the tiny seeds to be in just the right place so they may be awakened by the warm Spring rains.
Last year I was out on the edge of my property and was blessed with the sight of Golden Alexander poking up from the hillside.
One could think of Golden Alexander as sort of a wild broccoli. To the best of my knowledge it’s not actually related to broccoli but it’s used the same way. If you don’t already know the part of broccoli that we eat is the flower buds. If you allow broccoli to go without harvesting it produces a pleasant yellow flower. The flower buds of Golden Alexander are harvested the same way and can be tossed in a salad along with the tender growing portions of the stem. They can also be cooked and served as potherb.
Medicinal value of Golden Alexander is a little scarce. It seems to have been used as an analgesic by Native Americans and they used the roots for that in the form of a poultice. The action of the root is anti-inflammatory however the root also contains xanthotoxin which can cause you to be sensitive to the sun.
As we transition into the colder portion of winter I’ll be posting more photos from my archive until more plants begin to sprout.
Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
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