Any plant specialist/naturist in here?

[foofighter]

This is kind of a random question, but on days that I'm not riding i'm walking wood canyon w/ my family. Well, my wife and I both love that smell that you smell when you're in the canyon...I believe it's the bright yellow mustard plant that we're smelling there's also a plant that grows alongside the mustard yellow flower and it looks like dill but that has more of a licorice smell to it. But it's really earthy and weedy smell and we'd like to know what species of plant that and if it's possible to go to a nursery and buy that to plant in our backyard so we can have a bit of that at home. Anyone know?

[LBmtb]

I'm of no help when it comes to plant info but I bet a plant savvy person would have a better chance at ID'ing a species with a photo.

[g.c.]

Originally Posted by foofighter

This is kind of a random question, but on days that I'm not riding i'm walking wood canyon w/ my family. Well, my wife and I both love that smell that you smell when you're in the canyon...I believe it's the bright yellow mustard plant that we're smelling there's also a plant that grows alongside the mustard yellow flower and it looks like dill but that has more of a licorice smell to it. But it's really earthy and weedy smell and we'd like to know what species of plant that and if it's possible to go to a nursery and buy that to plant in our backyard so we can have a bit of that at home. Anyone know?

The licorice smelling plant is fennel (yes, the kind you buy at the market for your meals usually sold in root form). Also causing the fragrance is sage, which has the little elongated drop shaped leaves and comes in a green or a silver. Lastly, the one that really sticks to you and is found all over the hills is wild rosemary.

Now, if you take some young mustard leaves, toss it with some of the fennel root sliced thinly, add some sage and make a rosemary vinegarette you have one hell of a salad.

Damn, I'm hungry.

[foofighter]

Originally Posted by g.c.

The licorice smelling plant is fennel (yes, the kind you buy at the market for your meals usually sold in root form). Also causing the fragrance is sage, which has the little elongated drop shaped leaves and comes in a green or a silver. Lastly, the one that really sticks to you and is found all over the hills is wild rosemary.

Now, if you take some young mustard leaves, toss it with some of the fennel root sliced thinly, add some sage and make a rosemary vinegarette you have one hell of a salad.

Damn, I'm hungry.

DANG! that does sound good!

George i'll have to take some pics and post up to help id? i dunno sorry for the poor description of the smells.

[LBmtb]

Guess not - g.c. sounds like he knew what you were talking about.

[g.c.]

Here are some links to pictures so you don't go making a poison oak salad.

Sage: http://www.english-country-garden.co...ers/sage-3.jpg
Wild it isn't as hardy (the leaves are thinner) but you get the idea.

Rosemary: http://www.lattaplantation.org/image...n/rosemary.jpg
In the wild it can be a bit more brown.

Mustard:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tricorbraun.com/uploads/images/mustard_morehouse-fs.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.tricorbraun.com/pressroom/pressrelease/05312001.asp&h=885&w=672&sz=105&tbnid=ft3KazvwOH20 OM:&tbnh=146&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpicture%2Bof%2Bmustard%26um%3D1&start =2&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=2
Just kidding, here it is:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...&ct=image&cd=3

Stuff grows tall around here.

Fennel:
http://www.potomacvegetablefarms.com...ies/fennel.jpg

[foofighter]

thanks! so i'm gathering that the smells that im experiencing is a conglomeration of all the vegetation?

[g.c.]

Originally Posted by foofighter

thanks! so i'm gathering that the smells that im experiencing is a conglomeration of all the vegetation?

It is either the vegatation or the stench from your sweaty ass after a ride.

Yes, the natural herbs and vegatation make you pretty pungent.

[foofighter]

LOL. thanks for the input!

[BrewMaster]

All of those can be found at nurseries for home growing in an herb garden. Sage also comes in purple and variegated types. I grow variegated sage because it has a sweeter, slightly stronger flavor.

I take fresh variegated sage with melted butter and salt and rub it on the outside of chicken and roast it. That's a slice of heaven.

Rosemary makes great hedges and tastes wonderful on lamb, among other things.

Be careful growing mustard. It can take over your yard if you are not careful!

[foofighter]

if anything we'll put the mustard in a pot so that it doesnt spread. I think by the time all is said and done, i will have a recreation of the great outdoors

if I could give you guys a location to go to. if you ride wood canyon from MILF park. as you're going down that asphalt slope towards the catch basin 1/2 way down that path if you stop you can smell it. it's a nice faint whiff.

[jfromlv]

I never get to experience those smells when I'm riding, since I'm usually riding with Lor.

[Pain Freak]

The sage is by far my favorite, although I do like them all. The rosemary is right up there too. I think it was Dstepper who was filling his pockets with it one day. I've tried to bring it home to carry the scent as a room odorizer, but it fades very fast.

[JamR]

Mustard is not a native plant but definitely adds spice to a salad. Clears your sinus also.

If you are really interested in native plants for your home, try the Tree of Life Nursery on Ortega Highway.

They specialize in native plants and will be more than happy to guide you throug your purchases.

[foofighter]

we'll definitely give that place a visit

[RustyIron]

I've always called it anise. I don't know for sure if it's fennel or anise, which are technically different.

In this area the plants have just started to flower so in the evening the hills are perfumed with licorice.

Break some off and chew on it. Initially it doesn't have much taste, but then there's a lingering flavor. Look it up on wikipedia, just to make sure you're not eating locoweed. The anise/fennel plants are pretty unique, so there's no chance of confusing them with anything else.

Another plant that is currently fruiting in the hills is elderberry. They're tasty enough to pick a few and munch 'em.

Rob

[foofighter]

never been a fan of licorice so i wont try that but thanks for the tip.

[ECOdork]

When I was teaching at UCI I used to say that it was fennel that made good italian sausage, good italian sausage (amongst other things). The seeds, leaves, and roots are all good to use for cooking. One of my fave's is to grill-up some fennel root lightly oiled and seasoned. hmmmmmmmm

I second what JamR said and I'll add:
Get with some local nursery's, parks, museums, etc. and learn your local (if not entirely native) vegetation and critters! I remember a few parks that offered "naturalist" tours. You'll appreciate the beauty of SoCal that much more!

And one of the lesser known "gems" is the U. of Cali - Irvine Arboretum which is adjacent to the San Joaquin Freshwater Marsh Reserve. (http://nrs.ucop.edu/San-Joaquin-Marsh.htm)
They often have plant sales. But I highly recommend taking a walk around here at any time. This place is one of the last (and largest) INTACT examples of an OC/SoCal freshwater wetland ecosystems. Lots of local/native species of plants, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, etc congregate here. It is very well preserved and managed and is actively used for education, research, etc. Last year they had a breeding pair of Osprey's hanging out. Apparently a rare thing for SoCal.

'Round here I've been able to enjoy blueberry, blackberry, and cranberry right off the plant! We have fennel too, but it's no where near as fragrant or lucious as it was in SoCal...

[foofighter]

Originally Posted by ECOdork

When I was teaching at UCI I used to say that it was fennel that made good italian sausage, good italian sausage (amongst other things). The seeds, leaves, and roots are all good to use for cooking. One of my fave's is to grill-up some fennel root lightly oiled and seasoned. hmmmmmmmm

I second what JamR said and I'll add:
Get with some local nursery's, parks, museums, etc. and learn your local (if not entirely native) vegetation and critters! I remember a few parks that offered "naturalist" tours. You'll appreciate the beauty of SoCal that much more!

And one of the lesser known "gems" is the U. of Cali - Irvine Arboretum which is adjacent to the San Joaquin Freshwater Marsh Reserve. (http://nrs.ucop.edu/San-Joaquin-Marsh.htm)
They often have plant sales. But I highly recommend taking a walk around here at any time. This place is one of the last (and largest) INTACT examples of an OC/SoCal freshwater wetland ecosystems. Lots of local/native species of plants, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, etc congregate here. It is very well preserved and managed and is actively used for education, research, etc. Last year they had a breeding pair of Osprey's hanging out. Apparently a rare thing for SoCal.

'Round here I've been able to enjoy blueberry, blackberry, and cranberry right off the plant! We have fennel too, but it's no where near as fragrant or lucious as it was in SoCal...

i should be ashamed, i went to UCI and graduated w/ social ecology empahsis on environmental design so i should have gone there first! what did you teach over at UCI?

[ECOdork]

foo- not ignored but PM'ed.
One difficultly about checking in on STR from 2000 miles away is that I can't keep up with the posts like I used to...