#sowthistle

苦菜 / Kucai (Chinese sowthistle stir-fry)

Common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) is a hardy flowering plant in the family Asteraceae (alongside, for example, daisies, sunflowers, and dandelions). It is native to Europe and West Asia, but appears throughout the Americas, East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. It is a common weed in recently disturbed soil, and sometimes pops up among and competes with cultivated crops.

Sowthistle is eaten as a bitter green in Chinese cuisine. The word "苦菜" (Mandarin Pinyin: kǔcài), from "苦" "kǔ" "bitter" + "菜" "cài" "vegetable" or "greens," is often used to refer to sowthistle—though it may also designate other bitter greens, including garlic chives.

This recipe prepares sowthistle as Chinese bitter greens are generally prepared: blanched in salted water, then fried with ginger and garlic. The sweetness and pungency of the aromatics round out the earthy bitterness of the sowthistle, making a dish that's excellent as a side with soup or rice. Here, I used it to top a fried tofu sandwich with a soy-sesame-ginger sauce.

Recipe under the cut!

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If you’re reading this the day it’s posted, we are two weeks away from my book being released. Common Backyard Weeds of the Pacific Northwest will be available for purchase from your favorite bookseller on July 7, 2026. The book is a quick guide to many of the common weeds you will find across Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and parts of British Columbia and Alaska. It’s small enough to fit in your…

21/09/24-Orach, my first Clouded Yellow of the year, Long-winged Conehead on chamomile, view, Linnet, Rook and dock at Milford-on-Sea and narrow leaf blue eyed grass in the garden. I am ecstatic to see the Clouded Yellow and another striking paler one on the walk, a sensational, exquisite and well coloured species that was the last one I could add to my year list it's the second latest in a year I've first seen one or any butterfly species so I wasn't sure if I'd see one this year. I'm thrilled to have seen forty three butterfly species this year, my joint third highest ever in a challenging year for them.

Is it rabbit time? I think it’s rabbit time

I don’t wanna post all my ramblings and context here so click these links to read more c’:

https://www.deviantart.com/unarla/art/WFTW-Sketchdump-2-812552970

https://www.deviantart.com/unarla/art/WFTW-Sketchdump-3-813347976

https://www.deviantart.com/unarla/art/CLOSED-Buttercup-tryouts-812552455

The fourteenth card of the Tarot is associated with Sagittarius. It suggests the presence of faith, divine protection and the assistance of angelic spirit. It guides us to the way of balance and moderation. It’s recognition that more or less are not in themselves better- the ideal is to find the middle ground that generates the highest quality of pleasure and reward. It brings to mind the image of a chemist in their lab, experimenting with the perfect list and amount of ingredients for the most effective formula. It’s both philosophical and grounded. It honors and accesses both the mind and emotions as navigational tools.  Many decks include an image of the angel Michael. The fourteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Nun, can mean continuity or heir.  

Sow Thistle symbolizes eccentricity and boundlessness. It’s linked to Venus (warm + moist/kidneys, throat, skin, hair). It’s a mild diuretic, can calm the stomach, and is beneficial in the treatment of urinary problems. The white sap from the stem is thought to be healing to the skin, and can be used as a pain reliever.

Back in 2015, I pulled up at a job, looked down at the weeds beside the driveway, and discovered an entire ecosystem of parasites, predators, other parasites, and pathogens. And I only noticed the pathogen this evening. Which only goes to prove just how behind I am in posting the species I’ve actually managed to ID.