What's the best way to learn your native plants?

[Questor]

I've checked books out of the library but have a lot of trouble learning to identify native trees and plants, except for the ones that are easy, like oaks, maples, and other distinctive plants. What's the best way to learn how to do this? Thanks.

[DakotaElkSlayer]

The best way to learn this stuff is to find someone who already knows.  When I lived in Idaho, my fly fishing buddy knew all the plants and trees.  He'd constantly pointed them out to me...yes, I IGNORED him.  Unless you have a friend like this, I would check out your local state parks or National Wildlife Refuge.  Many of these will sponsor educational walks that are lead by a ranger, or some other knowlegable person.  

Good Luck,

Jim

[Rustyinfla]

As I understand it there is a popular misconception that indians knew every plant in the woods. I read once that most healers really only used 8-10 plants for everything they did. I guess that's about all it takes in a given area.


        Rusty <><

[BCB]

Questor,
Get field guides.
I use George Petrides "Guide to Trees and Shrubs" and Newcomb's "Guide to Wildflowes"
Both allow you to key through a plant/tree and identify it.  I used both of these in college 25 years ago and I still use them today.  It helps if you have some knowledge of the terminology used in the books.  But mostly they explain them.  Good-luck...BCB

[Duffy]

Also check with your local extention/farm service office or college in the horticulture dept.

[Dusty Miller]

What in the name of heaven does this have to do with handgun hunting?

[Mikey]

Dusty:  I dunno!  Maybe Questor is on another quest.  However, that being said it certainly helps being able to recognize natural food plots where game would normally browse, as well as those places you don't want to plant your butt when nature calls (lol).  Somehow, I just can't picture the fellas who visit this forum tip-toein' thru the tulips, unless it's to get close enough for a good pistol shot and that may be the cruxt of the matter.  After all, there are many naturally ocurring plants and bulbs that are favorite treats for whitetail (stickin' up fer ya here Questor).  One of my favorite dinners is apple stuffed venison - taken directly from the whitetail who browses my apple trees to nubbins (lol).  

I can tell you that nothing frosts Moma more than seeing her favorite shruberies browsed to the stalk by foraging bambis, especially after she has spent days and weekends haulin' all the bedding and fertilizer around.  Certainly there is nothing like a woman scorned to add a measure of, ummmm, urgency to reducing the whitetail population.  

We have had a lot of residential development here over the past 15 years and although I love some of these idiot people, they just don't understand that all the expensive flowers and shrubs they plant are little more that deer treats.  A whitetail can destroy better than one thousand dollars worth of landscaping and horticulturaling (?) in just one night.  Some of the best places to hunt whitetail are the commercial apple orchards that they decimate.  Now, that's apple stuffed venison fer ya.  

Just a thought.  Mikey.

[BCB]

Micky,

Don’t know about “tip-toeing” through the tulips, but I am an avid observer of nature, thus, the field guides I previously mentioned.
I also have at least 20 different reloading manual, plus the pamphlets distributed by the various powder companies.  I shoot probably between 7500-10000 rounds per year at my shooting bench.  Many of these are my own bullets—Cast, you know.
I go to my shooting range to shoot my weapons.  BUT, as an extra bit of pleasure, I observe plants, trees, and wildlife of all kinds.  In just a 2-mile radius of my shooting bench, I have identified over 300 species of wildflowers and nearly 150 trees and shrubs.  During many of these walks, I have a Ruger Security-Six hanging from my hip.  Guess it must be my science degree of years ago.
So maybe we should just leave the “tip-toeing” through the tulips to Tiny Tim (deceased)…BCB

[Dusty Miller]

I suspect that Questor is planning to BLOW AWAY some of those nastier native plants.  I don't know how many loads of OO buck it'd take to make a dent in California's poison ivy crop Questor, but you're welcome to come out here and have a go at it!!

[leverfan]

OT or not, this is a good subject.  The best resources I've found for information on plants were older relatives that had lived in rural areas through the great depression, or other lean times.  The combination of growing up in the woods and needing to know potential sources of food or cash crops leaves them with a keen memory for plant life.  My father is one such person.  He's too young to remember the depression, but he knows his plants after growing up on a farm in the middle of an otherwise forested area.  He knew plenty of folks that made extra money picking plants for the florist and pharmaceutical trades.

[Sgtshultzy1]

Taste test..works every time :-)

[leverfan]

Taste test..works every time :-)

Not all of us have a gullible mother in law that enjoys the outdoors, so who tries the mushrooms for the rest of us?

[Sgtshultzy1]

I was thinking of those shiny three leaf plants with the purty red berries for her-lol!

[Badnews Bob]

I just go out and say hi and introduce myself ... real friendly like they most always come around. :roll:

[Bim]

I've only used books. I've got a lot of them and the less expensive ones use color sketches these are no good. Try to find ones with photographs. They are much easier to use but usually much more expensive.
  When I was very young my buddy's Mom used to take us for walks in the woods and she would point out all the different plants. I guess that's why I'm fasinated by wild plants and musrooms. I don't eat them really maybe nibble on an indian cucumber now and then buy that's about it.
  I've moved to WV and there's a whole new world of plants here that I want to learn about.

[BlkHawk73]

What in the name of heaven does this have to do with handgun hunting?

Been thinking this exact same thing.   :?  SPJDGI :wink:

[Graybeard]

If you guys don't understand what it has to do with handgun hunting then most likely that's why you're coming home empty handed so often.

[Hooker]

Ain't ya'll never went spring turkey hunting and come home with a mess of poke salad  wild onions and sassafras roots?

[S.S.]

If it makes you puke don't eat it again......
If it makes you Itch Don't touch it again......
If it kills you, The question becomes a mute point anyway!
 :grin:


The internet should be pretty handy in identifying plants
that are indigenous to your area. Just make sure the
sources are reputable.
And Graybeard, You are absolutely correct.
   Some folks just like to make comments I think.

[John]

I don't know about you fellas, but I'm always armed while stalking the wild asparagus, and now that I think about it, it's morel time, and the cottonmouths hang out near my secret morel patch.

[Lloyd Smale]

smoke em!!! someone had to say it!

[eli]

Sooo..what's the best caliber to tap a maple with? :wink: