Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Pokeweed and Pine Needles

This is something I used to do when I was a little girl. My Granny had pokeweeds in the woody areas behind her house. Their red and purple beauty just seemed to beckon us! Of course, my cousin and I didn't use paper to paint with these juicy, splendid things. We freely smeared them on trees and the back of an old tool shed! It was great fun until we came inside with our hands (and most of our arms and clothes) all stained a beautiful, velvety color! My Granny didn't really think that it was as great as my cousin and I did. Oh well, it left stains on our clothes and wonderful memories of childhood in our hearts!

As Little Mister and I walked around in the woody area beside our house today, we found loads of pokeberry bushes! I picked a bag full while he found the perfect pine needle branch!
There's some berries

Hurry Mommy, Let's Paint

Please use caution and supervise your child well if you paint with Pokeweed berries!!!


Interesting Facts about Pokeweed:
* U.S. Constitution was written in Pokeweed ink.
* American Indians used pokeweed ink to decorate their horses.
* The pokeweeds, also known as poke, pokebush, pokeberry, pokeroot, polk salad, polk sallet, inkberry or ombĂș, comprise the genus Phytolacca, perennial plants native to North America, South America, East Asia and New Zealand. Pokeweed contains phytolaccatoxin and phytolaccigenin, which are poisonous to mammals. However, the berries are eaten by birds, which are not affected by the toxin because the small seeds with incredibly hard outer shells remain intact in the digestive system and are eliminated whole.

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9 comments:

  1. interesting! i never knew any of this. thanks for linking up to tip-toe thru tuesday!

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    1. Keep learning fun, I believe that's a motto most of us share! I would be honored if you would follow my blog. I think yours is fantastic!

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  2. I can not say that I have ever heard of pokeweeds or that the American Indians used them for ink to decorate their horses. I will have to write that fact down to teach my children. Thank you for linking up to my Enchanted Thursdays Blog Hop!

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    1. They were a staple from my childhood! glad I can pass some things along! =0)

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  3. Very interesting! It does make a lovely color! Looks like you have a little artist on your hands for sure :) Thanks for linking up at Sweet Saturday :)

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    1. Thanks and yes, he loves to paint! Hope you come visit again.

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  4. How fun! It's awesome that you are passing on fun childhood memories to your son!
    Thanks for sharing with my Super Link Party! :-)

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  5. What a beautiful color they make. Thanks for sharing at Mom's Library!

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  6. Oh, how interesting!! They are so beautiful as well!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!

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