Friday, May 4, 2012

Chicken Feathers and Horse Tails

I worked the littlest bit on Angel Stitchin's "Country Chicken".  This is a OOP limited edition kit.  I found it on eBay and have not seen it available anywhere else.

Lots of people think that Common Horsetails (Equisetum arvense) are a weed, in part because they are next to impossible to eradicate.  We have a couple of nice patches at the edge of our Big Creek.

I like 'em - in part because they are visual reminders of how the world looked a gazillion years ago.  (Think dinosaurs!)

These are two types of Horsetails - these are fertile ones.  Like ferns, they are able to reproduce via spores (not seeds), but also spread as rhizomes.

These bright green Horsetails are sterile.

The ancient Romans ate young fertile horsetails as if they were asparagus, used them to make a tea, and as a scouring powder.

Ferns and Horsetails are both long term adaptors.  It is amazing that they have survived numerous geological eras, climate changes, and herbivores, and are still happily growing in our 'modern' world.

6 comments:

dulcinella said...

I think your stitching looks very promising! I love the pictures you take from nature...they're always so beautiful.

The Inspired Stitcher said...

Can't wait to see the whole chicken! That's so interesting about the horsetails. I don't think we have those around here. You are right, the do look like fossils!

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Where did you learn so much about nature Beth?

Mouse said...

bit like a day of the triffids with those.... sooo if sterile how do they reproduce ???? and they look like feather dusters before used ..lol love mouse xxxx

Maggee said...

Never seen those before! Great information... The name is very apropos, don't you think? Hugs!

Barb said...

Good luck on your new project! Yes, the horsetails are hated here too. I don't mind them in the wild areas.We have tons of them on the walks that we take!