into the forest

I took a short hike in the forest yesterday and what struck me was that it felt like the end and not the beginning of August. The forest was teeming with berries , edible and poisonous, mushrooms and I noticed more than a few brightly colored leaves both on and off the trees. The birds are flocking and the squirrels seem to be foraging for nuts already. I am still hoping this truly isn't the shortest summer ever but nature is certainly telling me it might just be that.

I collected berries, some of which I ate before I even got back into the car (the first blackberries of the season). Most of the other berries are poisonous at least to humans. I don't think I have ever appreciated before just how many colors of baneberries or actaea pachypoda there were in our forests. I love the structure, form and colors of these berries on stalks and can see why they have been nick named doll's eyes because of the characteristic black spots especially noticed on the white berries.

When I got home I took pictures of them and I am thinking they would make really lovely subjects for screen prints. 

The next plant is quite rare in our forest and I didn't bring home a sample of it. It is known as Cancer Root or conopholis americana and is similar to the indian pipe in that it has no chlorophyll and exists parasitic on the roots of oak trees. It is very beautiful with its "pinecone sticking out of the ground" appearance.

I also collected some really amazing mushrooms and had my first go at making spore prints but that I will save for another post.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend and spending some time soaking in those warm days while they last.

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Comments

[rebekah]

beautiful! i love the creepy doll's eyes.

[Sonia]

I so do love berries as well, specially the edible ones :) I remember picking blackberries last summer in Chessy, with the boys and eating them from the bush, that's a sweet memory.
Even poisenous, berries are so splendid. The pink ones (baneberries) are so pretty indeed.
Thank you so much for sharing your picks, thoughts and memories from your walk in the forest, Little Red Riding Hood. I hope one day I'll be able to walk these with you. (who knows ?)
Enjoy your Sunday wiht your loved ones xoxoxo

[Richard]

That's a very interesting post and I experienced similar thoughts yesterday. When I was out gathering and wandering I too noticed the plethora of berries and will have to do something with them soon. An idea I had buzzing around my head was to make a star of thorns and then put white berries on the end of each spike, then stack them up so that it looks exactly like your first picture! When I first saw your post I thought that is what you had done. Funny really. Seasons changing all over the world and shared experience.

[mary]

Shortest winter here in the southern hemisphere it feels like! Everything blooming and springing into life!

[Debi Minter]

Just lovely. Your photos are always so inspiring.
Huggs!
Debi

[Siri]

Oh yes, perfect specimens for screenprinting, embroidery, or...?

We have a bright red baneberry around here, but I don't think we have any other colors, or else I might have to be more observant next time I'm out there in the woods.

We have some parasitic/no chlorophyll plants around here, too, but one doesn't often see them either, or at least, I'm not sure where to look for them.