Many years ago on a dreary wet day on the Oregon Coast, we took a trek to explore our local marshlands. It was February and not much was growing. By the side of the road, there were a bunch of small plants that looked like powder puffs. About 2 inches tall. No idea of what they were.

We carefully dug up five of the delicate little plants and put them in a corner of our front yard to see if they would grow.

They did grow, to about 2 feet tall and in about 3 years, the plants took over the entire yard.

The tall flowering plant lasted for less than a month and then large umbrella leaves took over everything.

The good folks at OSU identified them as Petasites frigidus, in the aster family.

These plants, especially the root, were used as a medicinal treatments for inflammatory conditions, pain, allergies by the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. The leaf and stem were an edible source of food.

We have since learned that there are carcinogens and toxins in the plant, not by themselves, but what our body creates in the process of trying to get rid of unknown substances from our diet.. Same as in some common drugs where the poison is not in the original substance, but in the metabolites we create.

Scientists have been able to separate out the cancer causing chemicals and isolate the positive therapeutic agents. Tests are being done with the extract to treat and prevent migraines.

The plants have a unique aromatic smell. Awhile ago, we thought to celebrate our ancestors and cook with some of their delicacies. I diced about a tablespoon of the leaf and added it to a gallon crock pot of vegetarian soup.

The taste was so bad that it rendered the whole pot of soup inedible. I had a heart felt glimpse back in time over the struggles the original tribes faced to stay alive. Taking this one off my list of go to flavor enhancers.

Later this season, the flowers will fade and the large umbrellas will blanket the yard until early winter. Thereafter, the dreaded yearly cleanup begins. I’ll send another picture then (while the leaves are still in their prime).

May all be well,
John Kennedy

Old Nikon Coolpix L830

Size reduction and slight contrast increase with Affinity Photo 2.4.2