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By: Jim Fitzpatrick |
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Email: jim@nunica.com |
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Local Farmer in Polkton Township writes for the Coopersville Observer. |
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Along Brandy Creek By Jim Fitzpatrick
The Coopersville Observer April 25, 2011- - No. 108 |
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Growing at ground level, often among the debris of last summer’s dried leaves and undergrowth, a special little flower comes to life each spring. Wild Ginger is often overlooked or even unknown to those that head to the woods and spend time among the wild flowers of April and May. In the shadowy bottomlands, along small streams in dark moist earth, this pleasing little gem of a flower unfolds its leaves soon after the first warm days of spring arrive.
You will have to get down on your hands and knees to have a good look. A pair of large, deep green, fuzzy, heart-shaped leaves is all that will be obvious at first. Carefully separate the pair and the surprise between them will be well worth your wet knees and soiled hands. The single cup shaped darkish red-brown blossom with three pointed lobes will amaze you. In contrast, to the more obvious bright and colorful spring flowers that flourish along the gully sides, the Wild Ginger’s subtle presence and appearance will make you smile. For the moment you may feel that you have entered a miniature Alice in Wonderland.
The root of this unusual Michigan wild flower has a pleasing ginger-like fragrance and when cooked with sugar can be used as a substitute for commercial ginger in a favorite recipe.
Take a walk through the woods down along Brandy Creek, Wild Ginger grows in profusion there – the farmer that owns the land won’t mind at all. |
