Went gathering dogbane on this unseasonably warm afternoon. This time of year, the chestnut colored stems really stand out. It makes beautiful cordage from the coppery stem fibers-one of the strongest I know, but soft and pliable. The Potawatomi name for the plant refers, I understand to awls. The seed pods are very narrow and sharp, like an awl in shape- not nearly as plump and flamboyant as the pods of their cousins, the milkweed. What I like about gathering dogbane is that you can really do no harm, because all you take are the spent dead stems, after the plant is done with them . I do try and be careful not to take any stems with seed pods still attached, for they wait a long time before sending their seeds off on the wind. I want to try making a tiny bag from it…let the twining begin. Megwech.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 00:40:31 +0000
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