I love visiting the woods throughout the seasons, investigating what new flowers are blooming and what fruits have ripened. A couple of mornings ago, I visited one of my favorite places, Upper Buttermilk Falls. Once Mathew is in school, I visit it often, since it is just a mile away from the school and a lovely hike with gorges, waterfalls and chock full of biodiversity. Almost every time I visit I see something new.

On my last hike, I came across several fruiting plants that I had the pleasure of seeing earlier in the year while they were in bloom.

It is always thrilling to come across Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) whether it is in bloom or fruiting. It’s hard to miss its bright red clutter of berries.

I find the fruit of the White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) or better known as Doll’s Eyes rather interesting and creepy. The berries contain cardiogenic toxins, when eaten raw, your cardiac muscles will quickly become sedated and you know what happens when your heart stops beating – cardiac arrest (ie: death). Now that’s pretty creepy. I think it is best to leave them for the birds since they enjoy them with no ill affect.

I love coming across Great lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) in the forest. Its deep bright periwinkle blossoms are always a welcome sight among the green background of the early fall forest. Lobelia is one of the forest plants that have become commonplace in cultivated gardens, we even had it in our wedding flower arrangements. Lobelia is useful for serious respiratory problems as it is a powerful antispasmodic, relaxing the chest and opens constricted bronchial passages, therefore great for asthma and bronchitis. It is very powerful and should only be taken in very small dosages to begin with as it has varying effects on different people. Another name for it is pukeweed as it can induce vomiting in some people. Lobelia is on the United Plant Savers “to watch” list, so please do not pick it, just enjoy it’s beautiful blossoms.

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