Secular Charlotte Mason

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a112/destinysdarkness/Garden%20Photos/chicory2_1.jpg%22%20border=%220%22%3E%3C/a%3E" width="1" height="1" />Drats. I couldn't get the picture of chicory to load onto the site. Guess I will have to use the pictures I took even though they aren't nearly as clear. Will add those next time I'm adding images to the website.

Anyway. On to my little story about Chicory. Ever since childhood there have been these blue roadside flowers that I just love. They are the most beautiful blue ever. I've spent most of my life admiring these flowers. Then, last month I was reading a chapter in Pocketful of Pinecones where she is talking about when the kids found a chicory plant. I turn the page and her drawing of said plant closely resembles my favorite roadside flower. But the illustration in the book isn't in color so I'm not 100% sure it's the same plant. Low and behold, yesterday the kids and I were driving down one of our streets when I see my favorite roadside flower. So, I eventually get back to that spot and take some pictures of it. I then hit the internet to see if this really is chicory---and it is. Yay!!! I've always read about chicory in my historical fiction books but never realized it was that flower that I like so very much. Now, Drakon and I have another wild edible plant to add to our studies. I am quite excited!

Chicory can be used as a coffee substitute/additive.  Apparently you can also use the leaves for salad making and I know I've read some medicinal uses for it. Will have to go back and find those! Now, I'm wondering if the beautiful flowers are edible. I just love adding flowers to my salads and Kody Girl wants to learn how to sugar the edible flowers we often come across.

Pictures of the beautiful chicory plant will be forthcoming.....