Skunk cabbages (swamp lanterns) are in bloom all over Gabriola right now. Have you ever thought of eating them for dinner? I’ve mentioned that they’re edible, if you prepare them properly so that they don’t hurt your mouth. Here’s an account from a Washington State blogger who harvested and ate skunk cabbage: I have been [...]
Filed in First Nations,food,Gabriola Island Comments Off
When the swamp lanterns (skunk cabbage) bloom, I can’t resist photographing them. Never mind that I’ve taken hundreds of photos of them in previous years — surely these shots shot will be the best, I think, clicking away. Last week’s attempt at getting a great photo ended in disaster when my boot flooded with cold [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island One Response so far
I’ve shown you photos of Gabriola’s swamp lanterns (skunk cabbages) before (here and there) so you’ve got an idea of their size. But wow, when these things grow in places where the moisture lingers on into summer, their leaves get huge. The flowers have faded by now, but the leaves… oh, they are striking. Quite [...]
Remember swamp lanterns in a Gabriola stream? That’s what Gabriola’s swamp lanterns (also known as skunk cabbages) look like in springtime, in their glory. I didn’t think they’d be around at all at this time of year, but look — here they are! They’re poking up out of the water. Then there’s a gap between [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island,native plants Comments Off
Spring on Gabriola means swamp lanterns (skunk cabbage) will be blooming in shady streams and wetlands all over the island. Today we wandered into such a stream, more or less by accident, and had to wade though it to get out of the woods again. There were thousands and thousands of these plants, each a [...]
I was in the Elder Cedar Nature Reserve today, marvelling at the skunk cabbages now in bloom. Aren’t they stunning? The Tri-City news published a fascinating article about this plant the other day: Ode to the skunk cabbage. Early First Nations people knew that cooking skunk cabbage leaves and roots in many changes of water [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island,native plants,photos Comments Off
Look! Gabriola’s skunk cabbages have emerged from swampy ground, and are starting to grow: a perfect west coast sign of spring. You know that bend in North Road as you go from the village and approach Horseshoe? Just before the road straightens out, look to the right and you’ll see skunk cabbages next to the [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island,native plants,photos 2 Comments so far
