Hey! What do you think has popped up in our pot of pinks? See the heart shaped leaves? It is wood sorrel! (You might think it is clover but clover has rounded leaves and wood sorrel has the heart shape. You will be tested later!) Apparently, it is edible but hey, I'm not gonna eat it! "Sorrel" is from the old French for "sour" and the botanical name "oxalis" is from the Greek for "acid". You can try those sour, acidy leaves if you like! Oxalic acid is found in many foods like chocolate, coffee, beets and spinach, not forgetting the unforgettable taste of rhubarb! Now, is wood sorrel a native plant? It is listed as so yet it is also believed that it could have been introduced here many years ago. Me? I am just here for the beauty of it!
Richard and I went for a nice long walk at Panola Mountain State Park this past weekend. It was lovely! Look at this baby box turtle! I gently moved it off the trail, I was afraid that a biker might not see it.
It was a cool morning and so nice to have all these lovely trees around us.
THIS is what they looked like last year! Not even sure how many there were this year what with the rain amount we have had! Oh, and we did get some rain, thank you for anyone who prayed for rain for us!
Cardinal
Did anyone see that Queen Camilla brought "Roo" from England to go with the other Winnie the Pooh characters at the New York Public Library? I only wish I could show you the video that I saw of her! It has her carrying the tiny stuffed animal in her purse! And on the plane coming over, it is perched on the pilot's shoulder! Also, they have the sweet little thing looking out the window as they are flying! Little things, but hey, I thought it was sweet.
That looks like a gorgeous walk! I would enjoy walking with you.
ReplyDeleteThe sorrel is pretty, but I may not want to eat it. :)
I love that Roo got to travel in style.
Hey! Pop down to Georgia and we can hike together! Yes, I love that Roo got the Royal treatment. x
DeleteI love the wood sorrel leaves peeking through the blooms and that you were aware enough to see and move the turtle. Those are the bluest skies I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteThanks, KG! Just noticing we have the same initials! That turtle was so small that from a distance, I thought it was a clump of leaves! Blue skies are wished for you!
DeleteAww baby box turtle. Loved the pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary. We have the same kind of turtle in our own back yard and we have seen baby ones too but they are safe in our yard!
DeleteBeautiful photos, Kay. The baby box turtle is cute. And the video got my pet zebra finch going. LOL
ReplyDeleteAh, we once had a zebra finch, we called it "beepy", I bet you know why! LOL!!
DeleteI'm glad you moved the turtle. The sorrel flower is so pretty - but I don't think I would eat it. A nice walk with your husband and bird watching!
ReplyDeleteI am constantly helping turtles! If you see one crossing a road, if possible, try to stop and help it across! I have also seen one land on its back and helped it over. Turtles are safe around me!
DeleteWe have wood sorrel here as a native plant and it has delicate small white flowers so they might appear as well. Love the baby turtle photo. It is amazing what these apps and technology can do. Answers often within seconds that before would take days or even weeks pouring over books/ library research to discover... if at all pre internet. Always good to get out in nature in spring weather and that looks a fine walk.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed! I was only saying to Richard how long it used to take me to identify a flower or plant or bird, by just trying to research online but now, it is so much easier with these apps! I did read that wood sorrel is around the world. That is why it is possible that it was brought to America many years ago, and although it is considered native, it is not certain. And our walk at Panola Mountain IS a very fine walk! Wish you could come and walk with us!
DeleteDefinitely we need more sweet things right now, Kay! No thanks on eating the wood sorrel! 😂. I was reading the other day that you can eat strawberry leaves and stems. Ain't gonna happen ~ unless I'm on "Naked and Afraid." Like that's going to happen. Nobody needs to see this lady naked! 😂. Thanks for protecting that sweet little box turtle ~ they don't move fast. Such a beautiful post. Thank you, Kay!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Louise! I know it is very popular to eat things from the woods and the garden, things that are growing wild but I would not do that. For one thing, how do we know if something might be growing near POISON IVY? I shudder just typing those two words! You know you would have moved that little turtle too! Take care!
DeleteYou did your good deed for the day by saving that little turtle! And all the birds rewarded you with a lovely concert just for you!
ReplyDeleteOh Debra, that is so darn sweet, I might just need to add that to my list of sweet things! Lovely thought. x
DeleteThrush's here also have great songs, along with Blackbirds and Robins. Not sure what song wee turtles have...
ReplyDeleteAh, now you have reminded me of the birdsong of your robin, just beautiful! Wee Turtle Song? Sounds like a future children's book!
DeleteThat is the teeniest tiniest turtle I've ever seen. I'm so glad you rescued it. The flowers are gorgeous too. Thank you for bringing nature to all of us.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay! I am glad that Richard thought to take a photo of my big foot beside it! Maybe the turtle wouldn't look so tiny if it was pictured beside your shoe! LOL!
DeleteHappy trails for you and Richard, always! Sood sorrel grows in abundance in the Black Forest, and as a child, I ate it all the time during our family walks and hikes. It is so refreshing! I still pick a leaf or two occasionally.
ReplyDeleteOut of the birds you list, the only one we have here is the goldfinch, and even with that one I am not sure it‘s the same bird on our different continents. Love the little turtle - and am pleased to see that you, too, like your New Balance trainers! I wear various models in different colours, also with dresses and skirts and to the office; they are just the most comfortable shoes I know.
Sood sorrel?! Me and my fat fingers 😄
DeleteTee hee, no worries, I knew what you meant. Wood sorrel, I only just discovered in our yard recently and that it is considered a native, and was quite happy to see it pop up in our pot of flowers. Your goldfinch is different from our goldfinch but both are beautiful. Birdsong is birdsong though, and I know you enjoy it!
DeleteYes, I like New Balance shoes. They go in and out of fashion but that doesn't matter to me, I like what is comfortable and what works for me!
Your post just popped up in my reading list in the past hour and says it was posted two days ago! If it had popped up earlier, I’d have read it. What in the world. Oh, well, to err is human but to really foul things up requires technology.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed all your happy things and I’m so glad you helped the turtle move along to a safer place. My Sweetie and i always stop to move turtles, too.
Of course you help turtles too! I must tell you, I think of you when I hear my husband chuckling and find he is watching cat videos! You know how funny cats can be! And hey, don't get me started on computer problems!
DeleteI love these sweet things of life too, and have seen the pictures of Queen Camilla on the plane with Roo. She has a lovely sense of humour and niceness. What an enjoyable walk you had: the lilies are really pretty, the trees look cool and fresh, and that list of birdsongs is so impressive. I am off to see if I can get that app too.
ReplyDeleteOh,so glad you saw that video too! Funny thing, the Brits aren't demanding those little characters back, they just bring an extra to complete the set! I hope you will get that bird app. Tell us what birds you hear in Australia! Please notice the first bird on that list, Red Cardinal! We didn't need the app for that one, we know and love it's song. xx
DeleteAh year, I did indeed notice the Red Cardinal. We are off to Canada again in August, and as always hope to see another Cardinal while there :)
DeleteWish I could visit you in Canada in August! Have fun and hope you like the Tim Horton coffee!
Delete...Kay, thanks for taking me along to the sights at Panola Mountain State Park, where are we off to next?
ReplyDeleteHey Tom! Love your comment here, thanks! Other folks have exotic spots to share, I just go on walks! Hey, grateful for them though and thankful for fellow bloggers who visit me. All the best.
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