Red Maple – Acer Rubrum: Edible & Medicinal Uses for a Surprisingly Important Spring Flower

Red Maple - Acer Rubrum

Red maple (Acer rubrum) is not just an icon on the Canadian flag. Its spring flowers are rich in nectar and sought by bees very early in spring when there are less resources. Willow is another very early bloomer. These trees and shrubs are vital for bees and other pollinators, despite the PR being stronger …

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Nannyberry – Viburnum Lentago: Edible & Medicinal Uses of a Black Haw Cousin

Nannyberry - Viburnum Lentago

Around Haliburton, nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) is one of our uncommon bush cranberries. It may be found on wet banks, river edges, or in wet meadows. It’s on the taller side as bush cranberries go. In appearance and usage, it’s much like black haw, which grows just to our south in the States. It’s also similar …

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Elms – Ulmus SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Slippery Bark of Wild Plants

Elms – Ulmus SPP.

Slippery elm is the medicinal star of the elms (Ulmus spp.) native to Ontario. It’s also most popular local/Haliburton elm for foraging. But elm is at risk due to Dutch elm disease. Around cottage country Ontario there are three main native elm (Ulmus spp.) trees. The most common is American/white elm (Ulmus americana) as featured …

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Bush-Cranberries – Viburnum SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Alt Cranberry of Wild Plants

Bush-Cranberries – Viburnum SPP.

Bush cranberries are a common sight in Cottage country, Ontario. These berried shrubs include hobblebush, wild raisin, nannyberry, maple-leaved viburnum and highbush cranberry. All mentioned have edible and medicinal uses. Bush-cranberries (Viburnum spp.) are common here around Haliburton. Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides), pictured in the featured image, is common along wooded roadsides and edges of woods. …

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Tamarack – Larix Laricina: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Sweet Gum of Wild Plants

Tamarack – Larix Laricina

Tamarack (Larix laricina) is common in low, damp areas, treed bogs (especially fens) and shore banks. If you’ve read about other trees here on the Song of the Woods blog and you’re expecting a lot, you won’t be disappointed. When I moved up north I was surprised to see an “evergreen” (it’s not an evergreen) …

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Red Osier Dogwood – Cornus Stolonifera: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Salicylate-free Willow of Wild Plants

Red Osier Dogwood – Cornus Stolonifera

Joe from *Creator’s Garden calls it mskwabiimnagohns. Red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) is our most recognizable dogwood thanks to its bright red bark. It’s both a wild edible and a medicinal that you may be aching to know. *Link is to Joe’s video about red osier on Facebook, have a listen and follow 🙂 Our local …

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