Thursday, May 5, 2016

Inwood Hill Park Wild Foods Walk



Inwood Hill Park
14 May 2016
1pm - 4pm
$40

Inwood Hill Park - home to the last natural forest in Manhattan - is one of the most beautiful in the city. While the grassy ballfields near the entrance are buzzing with outfielders and smacking with bats, the woods to the west and south are almost deserted.

Mugwort - Artemisia vulgaris

Here, there is a the valley of spicebush (Lindera benzoin) - the small, fragrant indigenous trees whose berries are called Applachian allspice and whose twigs can make teas, sugar and infused drinks. Higher up the trees are tall and the sense of green enveloping. This is New York City?

Yep.

Pokeweed - Phytolacca americana

Along our route expect to see invasive field garlic, burdock, and mugwort as well as the elusive (in Manhattan) stinging nettle, and indigenously delicious pokeweed.

Columbine - Aquilegia canadensis

Our walk will take us up a hill, along a ridge, and down to overlook the Hudson River. 

Celandine poppy - Stylophorum diphyllum

We will see indigenous wildflowers en route: false and true Solomon's seal, columbine, celandine poppy. Learn to ID poison ivy and how to spot its folk-remedy antidote, jewelweed.

Jewelweed - Impatiens capensis

This is a fairly long walk over uneven terrain, and a reasonable level of fitness is required. Bring water, and expect a wild-inspired snack en route (no, we don't graze,  I make it at home).

Take the A to the end of the line - 207th Street, and walk west to the park's entrance at Seaman and Isham. More details will be emailed to confirmed walkers closer to the time.


WALK COMPLETE

1 comment:

  1. Leslie in OregonMay 5, 2016 at 9:01 PM

    I wish I could join you on this walk...the trail photographs are so tempting! The forest looks quite like the urban forest park that stretches for miles in and beyond N.W. Portland (minus the huge Douglas firs). Thank you also for the picture of the Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), the best photographic rendition I've seen of that sublime flower!

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