Look what I found popping up around the compost bins! I planted a stinging nettle patch next to the compost last spring after a couple of failed attempts in other spots around our yard, and was very happy to see them not only surviving, but thriving. It’s fun to go out and gather nettles, but when you have them growing in your own yard it is much easier to incorporate them in your regular diet. It’s nice being able to just go out and snip some nettle tips off for fresh herbal tea, soup, or a breakfast scramble without having to plan a wildcrafting excursion.
They had crept out several feet in front of the compost, out into the lawn and were filling in the area I had planted. These nettles are taking over, and I could not be any happier. I am thinking they really like the compost. After all my successful wild transplants in my garden on the Elmira homestead, it’s been a bit discouraging having plants not always establish so well here up the McKenzie. The positive side is that I’m getting a better picture of which locations work best for which wild plants out of this trial and error experience. Hopefully the Blue Elderberry, Camas, and Pearly Everlasting I just planted will do half this well.
Sometimes life throws us really nice surprises, and we just need to take a minute to stop and appreciate them.
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