#soaproot

San Gabriel Mountains, CA, USA

How do you enjoy Poison Oak? It's that time of year again and coming from me, possibly the most hyper sensitive to poison oak person I've ever known (well, up there, I have seen worse, poor guys--but that does Not discredit the Anguish I've suffered, sleepless nights, sheer madness, insane crazy ready to jump off the bridge jacked the heck upedness that poison oak IS & can do to a person😭). It's the only plant I've ever met that literally seeks to murder me. I avoid it like the plague but it is vengeful! It has a convenient way of Crop Blocking me when im out wildharvesting. Yea, funny. I ain't going near that mess. And the money (and hopes destroyed!) I've spent on crap like zanfel and technu & and homemade soaps.) On a brighter note, there is a Remedy. Wild, free & it's plant medicine and works like NOTHING IN THE WORLD that I've ever found and you can believe I've searched high and low and globally like Yearly!;) This pic I took is way cool because it shows the LEAFY qualities in winter/spring fairly well & summer look. LEAFY stage reminds me of "houseplanty" with wavy, curvy edges to its long, 2 toned leaves laid out in a radial pattern like say, dandelion leaves. Then the leaves get weird, broken, dried up, yellowy then they disappear all together. What emerges is this wild hairy brown "hair".... Like a horse tail hair or a brown mature coconuts outer fibers. Like a brush or broom. Very unique.... Not likely to confuse it for another plant. If you're lucky you'll find a SOAPROOT looking like this one.... Once you have the leaf down, you'll ID it with ease from a mile away. They grow in communities most commonly. And often right next to its good buddy, poison oak. By the creekside, low water tables or natural springs, in the sand and rocks is typical. There are a ton of uses for soaproot....like soap. Shampoo. Sealing baskets. Arrowhead sticking on. Stunning fish. Making neat Native American brushes. Edible when roasted.... All kinds of stuff but you'll have to catch my blog to learn more, insta is so limiting! Do yourself a favor.... Get Soaproot BEFORE you need it!! #soaproot #poisonoak #eldersisterorganics #herbaldownloads #graciasporlamedicinamam

Got the sketch done today for this door I'm painting. It just really needed a giant soap root plant on it. And a couple earthstars. And some moons. And a few other things.... Painting begins tomorrow.... #capturingitsmagic #soaprootismyfriend #theyjustmakemehappy #wip #painting #botanicalart #soaproot #californianative #sketch (at Oakopolis Creativity Center)