Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Wild Daisies


When mowing the front pasture around the garden for the wedding, parts of the farm were left to grow. It is these wilder areas along the edges that you can really see the succession of wildflowers throughout the year. Right now the daisies are in full bloom along the field edges. Ox-eye daisies are the most commonly found species, considered a noxious weed in several states.

Cattle lands often become home to sprawling fields of daisies if not controlled. When cattle are kept in a large area for a long period of time they will select tastier plants and leave the daisies alone, unintentionally giving them preferential treatment to grow. Pigs tend not to like them either but goats, horses and sheep will eat them fairly readily. With increased stocking densities and rate of rotation the cows and pigs will eat them, and they aren't poisonous, just not preferred.

While considered weeds to some I think they're beautiful and they can be useful as well. The unopened buds can be pickled and used much like capers. The flowers once bloomed can be dried and steeped in tea, as daisies are closely related to chamomile. I don't know if I'll ever pickle the buds, but i'm definitely down for some tea!

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