Treasures in with the "Weeds"

There are treasures everywhere. All we have to do is open our eyes and see the beauty in the most unsuspecting places. The area next to my mailbox and driveway has some “weeds” growing there. At first glance, it looks pretty desolate. On closer examination, there are little dabs of color here and there. Among the grasses, one of my favorites is Rattlesnake Grass. I also love Mariposa Lilies. which are a member of the lily family. The Liliacaeae family contains other edibles such garlic, onion, and asparagus, but also the poisonous death camas and hellebore. The bulbs of this and other members of the genus were boiled, or roasted and pounded into flour for porridge, by many tribes of Native Americans. The markings inside the cup of the flower resemble a butterfly, and Mariposa means butterfly in Spanish. Rattlesnake Grass was indigenous to Spain. It is amazing how Spain has left its mark so close to where I live.