By Josh, LHS Junior
Recently one of the Lyndon High School English III classes has been learning about the nature trail built at Jones Park in Lyndon. The trail is for educational and public use. One interesting thing about this trail is the numerous types of edible plants that are along it. These plants will help to increase and enhance the amount of wildlife there. They will not necessarily draw animals to the area but will help to hold them there, which will allow people to see and experience the wildlife.
Students, as well as other people using the trail, may be able to learn how to identify some of these plants and the nutrition they provide. It is important not to eat the plants unless you know exactly how to identify them because some plants are poisonous, for example the poke berry.
Most of the edible plants located around the trail already existed there before the trail was built.
Some wild weeds that are edible found near the nature trail include giant ragweed, common milkweed, dandelions, and pigweed. Ragweed has small seeds near the top of the plant that are edible and may attract birds and small rodents such as field mice. The stems, leaves and pods of milkweed can be eaten raw. Dandelions have leaves that can be eaten as a salad. There are also wildflowers and berries that can be found, including sunflowers, compass flowers, and wild roses. Some of the wild fruit includes wild strawberry, prickly pear cactus, ground cherry, wild plum, and mulberries.
So if you are around Lyndon, stop by and enjoy the nature trail and see what edible plants you can find.
Nature News is a project of the Lyndon High School English III class taught by Heather Fuller, who teaches English, drama and forensics. Along with the study of the works of famous authors, the junior students are learning about community-based writing. Coursework includes writing about subjects that will benefit readers. In Nature News, they plan to report on topics about appreciation of nature, using nearby Jones Park Trail as a learning tool.
