A mystery writer friend asked me about oleander, the evergreen shrub that thrives throughout the southern United States, a little while back. Being the smart-ass that I am, I asked her who she was planning to kill and she said a dog. What, what, what? Relax, it’s a dog in the mystery novel she’s writing. … Continue reading
I’m not ashamed to say that I like root beer. There’s something about the herbal and woodsy flavors that I enjoy. It’s refreshing, but also a time machine. A sip of root beer brings me back to my childhood and makes me feel like a little kid again. More so than any other drink, it is classic … Continue reading
A while back I was happy to report that the Death Cap mushroom was aptly named, in contrast to so many things in life. Unfortunately, “wild ginger” is not such a plant. With a name like that you would suspect it to be related to commercialized ginger, but alas it’s not. And while the smell … Continue reading
I love chile peppers and spicy food. I grow up to a dozen varieties of chile peppers each year, and turn the fruits into sauces, spreads, and salsas. For me, nothing tastes better than fresh homemade salsa, a few dashes of my Tabasco-style sauce, or fresh Thai chiles in my Pad Kra Pao. And I’m … Continue reading
Nature's Poisons 