The sea of jewelweed down at the big garden has grown so tall with this year’s ample rain that a lot of it has fallen over into the road.
When one considers the growth that happens each summer in the mountains of southern Appalachia it is truly astounding, especially during years we get a lot of rain.
Equally amazing is the way the first couple of hard frosts kills it all back until it is called forth with the warmth of the sun when spring of the year arrives again.
This time of the year is my least favorite.
The overgrown areas and even many of the trees take on a rusty look making me long for a hard freeze to tame the jungle.
Jewelweed generally grows in shady damp places. The area at the big garden fits that description perfectly.
The juice of the plant is a natural cortisone and is a medicinal remedy for poison oak, poison ivy, bee stings, and bug bites.
Several years ago Cheryl shared how she uses it.
“Every year an abundance of jewel weed grows along side our stream. I cut down to about 4 inches of the root, pack as much as I can into a few quart-size jars and pour in as much witch hazel or vodka as the jar will hold. Let it steep at least a month, the longer the better. Eventually I strain it and keep a few jars stored in the basement. It will get used up in a hurry if someone encounters ground hornets, yellow jackets, or poison ivy or oak. It takes the hurt out of the stings and by the end of the day all that is left of the stings is a small welt that is usually gone in a few days.”
The plant is sometimes called Wild Touch Me Not because once the plant begins to produce seedpods the slightest touch will send seeds flying in all directions.
I used to take my little cousins on walks. Finding a patch of jewelweed so they could “pop” the seedpods would entertain them for a good long while. I can’t wait to do the same with Ira and Woodrow.
There is a beautiful yellow variety of jewelweed, but we only have the orange growing here in Wilson Holler. I’ve noticed the yellow growing over in Clay County in Fires Creek and also in the Junuluska section of Cherokee County.
Last night’s video: Roasted Red Pepper Soup It’s So Good!
Tipper
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When we were young girls, my sister and I spent lots of time popping the seed bulbs on “touch-me-nots’. We thought it was great fun. I had no idea they were also a medicinal plant. That is so interesting to learn. They are growing everywhere now. I have only ever seen the orange ones. Your red pepper soup looked delicious last evening. Thanks for the recipe.
I believe that is what my Mom called wild orchid. In Ontario the flower is pinky purplish.
I don’t know if we have jewel weed here in central Texas. Maybe someone can tell me and where to find it if it does grow here. I’ve been plagued by bites from tiny mites or spiders this Summer. They swell up as bad or worse than chigger bites and itch like the devil. I’ve tried to find their source and end it but have not been very successful. The plague continues. I’ve not yet found a good remedy to stop their infernal itching and welt-raising. I’d like try Cheryl’s recipe. Maybe that will be my cure.
Norman, I remember from an elementary school science class rain water has nutrients in it that well water and especially “city water’ does not have. The rain water gets these nutrients from the trees leaves and other such things. With so much land and woods being destroyed nowadays, I wonder how much longer this will be true. I continue to pray for you.
I am so saving this post, and maybe one day I will try making the jewel weed medicine!
The picture of the jewelweed is beautiful. I just wish we had it growing here. It’s wonderful that while it’s pretty to look, it can be used for home remedies for poison and other things. Hope you get a picture of the boys popping the seedpods 🙂
They look lovely and good to know this information about them. I’ve not seen any around our house.
Jewelweed flowers look almost like little orchids.
I am constantly amazed by the variety of plants that the Lord has created for our use.
I have never noticed Jewel Weed here in Oklahoma that I recall, but when we were kids at our bus stop there were lots of young trees a couple feet tall (they were really bushy like) and on them grew some round something probably a fungus that was about the size of a pea—we would squeeze those between two fingers to see which of us 8 cousins could make the loudest pop…I have always wondered what those things were if for no other reason than to maybe find some and share the simple joy with a kid….much like you will with the jewel weed and the boys…..don’t you just love that phrase ‘with the boys’
Not jewel weed here but 4 o clocks. Just like the jewel weed they have loved the rain, are lush and about 4-4 1/2 feet high with many falling over. I have been altogether too tolerant of their spread and it is past time to reclaim some ground. They have already shed seed that has sprouted and begun another generation. More than once I have ‘kept the purty’ knowing I would pay for it – and then I do. Really like the idea of making ones’ own natural remedies but I’ve never gotten into it.
I enjoy watching Tipper pop jewel weed. Can’t wait to see the boys popping them when they are older (and don’t stick everything they touch in their mouths as most toddlers do) lol.
As soon as I saw the word jewelweed I immediately smiled. I have five children, and when they were littleI used to take them to the parks in Hickory. There were certain places by the stream where jewelweed would grow. We would talk about the intricacies of the flower, how God made it so perfect and so beautiful and so ornate, and of course they loved touching the little pods and watching the seeds spring and every single direction. I needed a little lift today, thank you.
It is a pretty plant, and I imagine the yellow flowering one would be just as lovely. I don’t recall seeing it around here or hearing that name ‘jewel weed’ before you mentioned it, Tipper. It is like the dandelion, once it takes hold it takes over!
The yellow variety might be what is growing down in my bottoms. I’ll have to take a closer look. When I was growing up in eastern KY, there was a tangly and spindly vine that grew along the road, covered in curly seedpods. It’s hard to guess how many hours a bunch of little skinny barefooted children spent entertaining each other with those seedpods. I haven’t seen the vine in years, but I would love to see it again. We also threw a handful of the vine over our shoulders, but I don’t remember why. It was surely something to do with a boy we liked, kind of like pulling petals off daisies and asking if he loves me or loves me not. I will have to ask some older cousins about that one.
I find any jewel weed I’ll make up a concoction like Cheryl did! It amazes me that God’s creation is not wasted. When the boys pop those seed pods have your camera ready because it’s going to be a “kodak moment.”
Everyone get out and enjoy this beautiful day! Continued prayers for your mama.
I was trying to write, Just like Laura, the gardens in my area were mighty pitiful this year. The deer were having to carry lunch bags with them, there was not enough in the gardens to feed hem. My “chicken peck” finger hit the wrong thing.
My back yard is covered in Jewel Weed as well. We always picked the flowers and wore them as earrings. I still pick and wear a pair every year. I’d love a photo of you and the girls wearing them too. I use the leaves on bee stings and poison ivy. It is great to treat stings from the nettle that grows close by as well. I loved the Roasted Red Pepper Soup yesterday. TY for your recipe.
I don’t know much about wild plants like jewel weed. I would think at onetime in the past before today’s medicines, plants would have been used to cure many illnesses. Unlike Tipper, the fall of the year is my favorite time of the year. After the hot, dry, humid summer we had this year and for the last several years, these nights of 55 degrees and daytime temperatures of 75-80 degrees sure do feel good to me. Just like I am trying to spend every minute I can outside.
the hummingbirds like the jewelweed down by the creek, I’m still trying to thank everybody for praying for me, I went to the hospital again last night with high blood pressure, I’ll be seeing the heart doctor today, thank you for praying for me please continue to do so, God bless you very much
You are blessed to have an abundant supply of such a useful plant. I grew and harvested elderberries this year and have cooked them down for juice if we get sick. It is such a good feeling to be able to make use of what the Lord has supplied for our benefit. My grandfather lived to be just a few months shy of 100. He knew all the natural remedies but unfortunately at the time that I should have been asking him to teach me….well I was a teenager and had my mind on other things. I wish that I had asked more questions. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and the knowledge of those around you . Everyone, have a wonderful day.
My wife learned about jewel weed when she had a terrible outbreak of poison oak. we told our daughter about it and she reseait and learned how to make a salve with it. it works great !
We have he orange variety in Vermont. Our creek bank is full of it right now.
I just love that God has supplied necessary plants to help us in this life.
We didn’t get much rain here this summer. It sure has made my garden pitiful, even though we watered.
you know my brother-in-law said water a garden with a hose is not like natural rain, I believe that