Discovering nature

Got up this morning and drove to the store with DH, and on the way back down our 1/4 mile driveway I spotted these big oval green thingys hanging from some bushes.

I grab one, cut it open and think loofah! But to make sure I bring it into the house with some leaves and research on the net to find out what it is. Turns out it is Passion Fruit!! The distinct leaves gave it away. So did the pretty purple flowers.

The vines are kinda wrapped around a bunch of bushes and other brush, and the vegetation is pretty thick, but when I really started looking the fruits hanging were more noticable. I can't wait to make something with them when are ripe!

Are discovering these gems I started really taking a look at the other bushes and trees. I ended up finding a few things that I can use for dying wool. Pokeberries were used during the Civil War by the soldiers for ink to write letters and diaries. These have also been used in the past and currently as dye for wool, and turns out a beautiful burgundy color. I want to come up with a way to preserve the juice of these berries in jars for dying year round. there has to be a way to can this stuff, or dry maybe. The other berry I came across was the beauty berry.

These berries will dye the wool a pink/red color. Neither the poke or beauty berries can be eaten by humans, but some animals and birds enjoy them. Deer especially are said to like the beauty berries.
The last one I found was red elderberries. I knew they gre in this area, but have not seen them on the property until today. Maybe I just wasn't looking for them very hard. The red elderberry can't be eaten in it raw state, but when cooked it can be used in wine, jams and jelly or pies even. I'm going to see if there are any canning recipes for this little berry so I can preserve them.

That was a pretty good morning, learning what was growing here and what I can use for making other things, especially canning and dying wool with just free things from nature.

I took some photos yesterday of my angora goats and one of the rabbits as I was out watering them.

In the last photo if you look at her mouth you'll see she is smiling! These goats are very gentle and people friendly. I should be shearing them in September or October. Here are a few more pictures I took around the yard.