Hello friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Wild Geranium 4220” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.
New Life rises from the forest floor as the Cardnials call a tune for the sun. All over the mountain the green things are filling the view. At my feet I noticed the tiny purple buds presented to the world. The wild geranium is a great source of joy in the Appalachian Spring. It’s usually among the first plants to rise and bring color to my world.
Wild Geranium 33020a
They always inspired contentment with the changing season.
I take the opportunity to just sit among them and enjoy the real world as a part of creation and not just in creation.
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
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Tobook me simply reach out using theContact Pageand we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.
Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook
If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is
Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.
I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.
Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer.
Hello friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Mayapple 33020a”. Tonight’s photos were taken just for Forage Friday. All of the photos on my blog are my original work and are available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.
Tonight’s Forage Friday post is a plant that has been known to cause fatalities. While extracts from Mayapple are used in modern pharmaceutical preparations this one is definitely not for home remedies.
In early Spring one of the first green plants to burst through the leaf litter is the Mayapple. The only edible part is the fully ripe fruit and even then the seeds must be removed. Something that I have never tried because as soon as they ripen the wildlife snatches them up. In fact I’ve only seen the ripe fruit once in my life and it had already been nibbled. So no Mayapple taste tests for me.
“Mayapple 32420”
When the shoots first come up the twin leaves are wrapped around the stem and the marble sized flower bud has already formed. They’ve always reminded me of the stereotype vampire wrapped in a cloak at this point.
In the past I’ve mentioned that some plants may not be good as forage for food but that they are a more of wild cash crop and that’s where Mayapple comes in on my forage plant list. The plant contains a cytostatic substance called Podophyllotoxin that was once part of a drug that was used topically to remove warts. But because it is a substance that inhibits cell growth it’s being researched for possible use in treating cancers. If you can locate a buyer they usually buy it by the pound. The top search result on Google comes from August of 2019 and shows $4.00/lbs. Ginseng normally goes for around $600 to $800/lbs and at first it sounds like a low price for Mayapple but when look at the time and energy invested in harvest Mayapple pays off in the lbs/hr.
An emerging colony of Mayapple
Mayapple grows in large colonies that at times can cover the whole mountainside with lush green foliage. Whereas Ginseng is more commonly found as a single plant here and there. So when you figure the time investment Ginseng might not even pay minimum wage.
A colony of Mayapple almost ready to bloom.
Mayapple grows from a long thin rhizome. What looks like a colony might actually be single plant. The vine-like root system is connected with the rest of the forest by mycorrhizal fungus that transports nutrients to the roots and even may carry chemical messages between the herbaceous layer and the trees towering above. (For more about how plants talk to each other check out this article on LingQ)
If you choose to make Mayapple into cash crop it’s this root that the buyers want. Some will buy it freshly dug but most want it cleaned up and dried. Always wash the roots in cold water and hang them up to dry out of direct sunlight and with plenty of air flow to avoid mold from forming. It’s common for this type of root to lose 7 times it’s harvest mass in the drying process. When the root is brittle enough to snap without bending it’s done. A preservation tip is to store it in paper and not plastic. It needs to breathe to prevent mold. If you think about the bagged salad from the grocery store it usually gets slimy after a few days and that’s what’s going on happen to Mayapple roots if you put them in plastic. ( A great idea that works to keep salad fresh is to place a paper towel or napkin in the bag. )
Timing is also important for harvesting Mayapple roots. Most buyers will want roots that were harvested in September and October because that’s when it’s most potent.
Native Americans used Mayapple for various treatments but it’s just too toxic for me to be comfortable with. But as a way to gain a little extra spending money it can be a great natural resource.
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
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Tobook me simply reach out using theContact Pageand we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.
Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook
If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is
Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.
I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.
Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer.
Hello friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Napping Violet 4220” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.
Violet didn’t feel particularly blue today. In fact she was her cheerful sunny self. However, being a bright personality all the time was hard work and even though she hadn’t left her bed all day she was tired. So she laid down for a nap. The small twig on the forest floor made a perfect pillow for her head. Her life was simple and yet wild at the same time. In the past she had considered a move away from the mountains but her roots were just too deep here. No, she would stay where she was planted. After all, it was her perennial duty to bring joy to that spot every year. She didn’t even mind living in the shady part of the forest.
When we think about violets we have a tendency to think that violets are always blue. Well, the ones that are deeper in the forest are yellow. The ones that occur in my little forest sanctuary have smooth leaves but the yellow violets are known for having fuzzy leaves. They have two types of flowers. Chasmogamous ( Latin for open marriage) flowers in the early Spring. These flowers exchange pollen with other plants but later in the summer this violet will produce cleistogamous flowers without pedals or scent. These second blooms will self pollinate and produce a natural clone of the parent plant.
The yellow violets are sometimes mistaken for pansies but pansies have 4 pedals that point up where violets only have 2 upward pointing pedals.
When I saw the one in tonight’s feature image it looked so much like it was resting that I couldn’t help but write about the things that a sleepy violet might be thinking about.
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Tobook me simply reach out using theContact Pageand we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.
Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook
If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is
Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.
I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.
Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer.
Hello friends! Tonight’s feature image is “Redbud 4720a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.
My morning starts with the roll of thunder echoing through my mountains. Then the sound of rain beating on the roof. The Spring storm lulls me back to into a deep sleep until the songbirds come out and give the all clear. Once I was certain that things had dried up enough I stepped out of the door and into a world of beautiful colors. One of the most awaited sights of my Appalachian Mountains is the Redbud and today it’s in peak bloom.
The Redbud across from my front door is in full bloom. ( Image Titled “Redbud In Full Bloom 4720)
The mountain road that runs by my house is lined with Redbud which is a double blessing under lockdown conditions. I decided to get some sun and fresh air by taking my lens a little closer to beautiful trees.
Image Titled “Redbud 4720b”.
These early blooms are a God send for the hungry honeybees that have been living on their stores since November. The solitary bees are out in force as well and open flowers have even brought out the butterflies.
The first Zebra Swallowtail of 2020 has made an appearance.
A Zebra Swallowtail darts over the road but refused to be still long enough for a good photo.
Image Titled “Redbud 4720c”
Redbud blooms are edible and rich in Vitamin C as well protein. For more about Redbud as a forage plant please refer to Forage Friday #3
Image Titled “Redbud 4720d”
The trees are absolutely loaded with delicate pink flowers. The pea-like flowers burst directly from the branches and sometimes the trunk.
Image Titled “Redbud 4720d”
The flowers won’t last long. Soon after the leaves form the flowers will fall away and leave the forest floor covered in pink confetti. But by mid summer these trees will be sporting bean pods. (The young pods are edible. Please see the link above. )
For now my mountain is in the pink and I’m loving every minute of it.
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Tobook me simply reach out using theContact Pageand we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.
Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook
If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is
Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.
I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.
Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer.
Hello friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Trout Lily 32420″and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.
One of the flowers that look forward to the most is the trout lily. I actually covered it as a forage plant about this time last year in Forage Friday #4. But today I just wanted to celebrate the simple beauty of the golden pedals and mauve anthers. The nodding flower looks almost as if it’s engaged in quiet meditation or prayers. Perhaps that’s one reason why the little spot just inside the trees feels like a sanctuary. It’s full of the prayers and meditations of nature. Alongside the trout lily the Jacob’s Ladder also seems to be in deep contemplation with its hood of purple pedals drawn over its face.
I was once told that when you talk to God that’s prayer but when you listen, that’s meditation. There’s no better place for either one than here on my mountain surrounded by my forest. When John Denver said “Almost Heaven” he was most certainly right.
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that graduation will be here before you know it. Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Tobook me simply reach out using theContact Pageand we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.
Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook
If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is
Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.
I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.
Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer.
LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC 