My husband has almost always been the chief lawn mow-er, but when we lived in Michigan we bought a riding mower and I mowed the yard most of the time.
When we moved to our land in Oklahoma, we quickly realized that we had about one square inch of level ground - we are really on a hill - and I won't use a riding lawnmower here. I'm afraid I'll tip over!
While I found that riding mower in Michigan to be very relaxing (as long as it was on level ground), hubby does not enjoy mowing the grass with any kind of mower.
So I told him that if he'd get me a self-propelled lawnmower I'd take over the front yard, and eventually I had "my own" lawnmower. The front yard became my responsibility.
It's spring, and it's time for the first mowing of the season
But I'm putting off mowing the front yard now that spring is here. It needs mowing badly.
But the dandelions are yellow polka dots in the green yard and the shepherds purse is blooming. The henbit has turned our lawn into a purple carpet.
Hubby has hinted that it needs to be mowed, but the henbit is so pretty when you plop a puppy or a baby goat in the middle of it and take pictures.
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| One of the Pyrenees puppies we had a few years ago. |
You see, we really don't have much real grass and I'd hesitate to call our yard a "lawn". There are plenty of useful plants though.
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Dandelions are one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, and they feed the bees - another reason to put off mowing.
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| Plantain |
The plantain is growing in swirly clumps. Plantain can take away the sting from insect bites; pick a leaf, chew it up and place it on top of the sting for almost-instant relief. Or make plantain salve for easier use.
You can identify plantain by the veins that run parallel from stem to tip. The veins are especially visible if you turn the leaf upside down.
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| The veins on plantain run parallel, from stem to tip. |
There are also clumps of curly dock.
If you have trouble telling curly dock from plantain, turn the leaves over and check the veins underneath. You'll see the difference right away.
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| Yellow or curly dock has wavy leaves. |
Curly dock leaves often have wavy edges as the leaves get larger.
Sometimes the clumps look kind of reddish or purplish in the early spring.
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| Yellow or curly dock |
We have a patch of wild onions in the yard too. I hate mowing those down.
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Egg and wild onion dinners are a spring tradition in rural Oklahoma. Dandelion greens and the leaves of shepherds purse are also good additions to spring salads.
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| Chickweed |
The chickweed is growing heavily right now too.
I always pick plenty of chickweed so I can infuse olive oil and make salve. Chickweed and plantain salve is our go-to remedy for insect bites, stings, and other skin problems such as rashes.
But the time has come.
The yard looks pretty ragged, with the bare dandelion flower stalks standing tall above everything else, and mounds of henbit and clover looking untidy.
So I'll forage what I can first, and then I'll mow the lawn.
Maybe I can mow around the plantain?
Foraging tools
Take a look at these handy foraging tools:
- Garden snips to cut stems - this set includes both snips and shears
- My favorite bamboo gardening gloves to protect your hands from thorns and other hazards
- Take along a foraging/harvest basket to carry your treasures back to the kitchen
- Use a field guide to positively identify wild plants
Disclaimer: Do your own research before using any products, plants, herbs, and/or essential oils. The information in this post is for entertainment purposes only.
