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Spring 2025

  • Liz
  • May 16
  • 2 min read
I love Spring. It's a fascinating experience watching everything outside come back to life after a cold dormant Canadian winter. It changes every year. It was 15 years ago we moved from Toronto to start a new life living in nature and growing our own food. Best decision ever. We scored a 7+ acre property with a natural forest, with beautifully maintained walking trails and a seasonal creek. Being part of the Oak Ridges Moraine, we quickly learned our property grows an abundance of everything mother nature has to offer in this area. From wild asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, elderberries, poppies, red clover, mushrooms galore, goldenrod, coltsfoot, lemon balm, echinacea, mullein, marshmallow, comfrey, burdock, jewelweed, milkweed, sumac... I could keep going.

If I were to dig up 90% of the day lilies we have throughout our property and sell each one for a couple bucks we'd make a very healthy profit. And the number of fiddleheads we could harvest every spring would probably warrant a roadside food stand.

 

It's been an amazing journey living here and learning what Mother Earth has made available to us.  This blog is therefore dedicated to the first hardy plants that emerge out of the ground giving us a glimpse of what's to come. 


Spring Crocus: These little darlings were first discovered the following year in very early spring. They are rare and limited but every year at least one of these lets us know they're still around, teasing us with hope that weather will be improving soon. 
Spring Crocus: These little darlings were first discovered the following year in very early spring. They are rare and limited but every year at least one of these lets us know they're still around, teasing us with hope that weather will be improving soon. 
Grape Hyacinth: I don't know what animal planted your bulb in here amongst the raspberry patch, but I can always count on you letting me know when spring is almost here. I admire your hardiness considering those cold nights you must endure. 
Grape Hyacinth: I don't know what animal planted your bulb in here amongst the raspberry patch, but I can always count on you letting me know when spring is almost here. I admire your hardiness considering those cold nights you must endure. 

Horsetail: A silica-rich herb that helps rebuild and provide elasticity to skin, hair and nails. Horsetail has been used for thousands of years and is also used to treat wounds, support bone health, and acts as a natural diuretic.  Apparently, a concoction of Horsetail along with Saw Palmetto Berries will reverse gray hair!!!
Horsetail: A silica-rich herb that helps rebuild and provide elasticity to skin, hair and nails. Horsetail has been used for thousands of years and is also used to treat wounds, support bone health, and acts as a natural diuretic.  Apparently, a concoction of Horsetail along with Saw Palmetto Berries will reverse gray hair!!!

Coltsfoot:  Camouflaging as a dandelion, you can't hide from me. You always show up a week or 2 before you get lost amongst the dandelion field.  Coltsfoot is one of the time-tried remedies for respiratory problems, such as coughs, colds, hoarseness, etc.   
Coltsfoot:  Camouflaging as a dandelion, you can't hide from me. You always show up a week or 2 before you get lost amongst the dandelion field.  Coltsfoot is one of the time-tried remedies for respiratory problems, such as coughs, colds, hoarseness, etc.   

Of course, if you planted Garlic in the fall, these are always a welcome sight.
Of course, if you planted Garlic in the fall, these are always a welcome sight.
Disclaimer: I have noticed when researching some of these herbs online, many have warnings with potential side effects, etc.  When compared to my old school herbal books, I can't help but wonder if fear mongering is the new norm to discourage folk from trying cheap alternatives. Information herein is courtesy of The Herb Book by John Lust.

Spring Flowers and Blossoms:




And lastly...


A milestone birthday for this handsome boy who showed up at our home when he was a wee little one and decided to stay. Our vet guestimated he was born May 15.

Happy 20th Birthday Ronaldo. I'm happy you're still with us.



 
 
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