Pretty enough to eat…

There are some plants that are pretty enough to eat.

But DON’T. This (above and below) are poke berries and they can kill you. Birds, on the other hand, love them. I can’t wait for flock of Cedar Waxwings to come partake of the feast.

On the other hand, the fruit-laden plant below is a sumac and these berries are edible. I don’t recommend eating them as is though. They are very sour. But, they do make an excellent “lemonade.”

I have written a manuscript about foraging and edible wild plants but have yet to interest an editor. One editor who gave me a critique said she loved it and asked me to have my agent submit it to her after I make a few changes. Then she unceremoniously Dear Johned me after my agent sent it to her. It’s a tough and heartless business.