Botanicals seems to be a new word for what aquarists used to call "leaves and stuff". Looking out back yesterday, I realized that it was time to take a bag out and harvest the leaves off my young red oak tree. It's a tree native to the region that's rarely seen as forestry monoculture doesn't want hardwood species. We have companies that brag about planting billions of trees, but they're all the same species and not chosen for woodland diversity. I put two oaks in and they are doing well.
I take the leaves when they've changed colour and haven't quite fallen yet. It's a matter of timing, as I live in a windy environment, and if a windstorm hits, all my botanicals head for the Bay. For most of you, nature will give you a bit more leeway. The time is now around here.
I'll also go down by the sea and look for alder cones. I can collect hundreds in minutes, although I have to suffer with deer coming out and giving me the stink eye. People usually don't go into alder thickets, and the animals seem to think we are an almighty pain when we do. Is nowhere sacred?
I take the leaves when they've changed colour and haven't quite fallen yet. It's a matter of timing, as I live in a windy environment, and if a windstorm hits, all my botanicals head for the Bay. For most of you, nature will give you a bit more leeway. The time is now around here.
I'll also go down by the sea and look for alder cones. I can collect hundreds in minutes, although I have to suffer with deer coming out and giving me the stink eye. People usually don't go into alder thickets, and the animals seem to think we are an almighty pain when we do. Is nowhere sacred?
