Absolutely fascinating, David! Audubon's culinary commentary is particularly interesting, if horrifying.
I wonder though, if Townsend's "rose buds" were actually rose hips, the fruit of wild roses. On September 2nd, I'd be very surprised if there were buds on Crataegus douglassii (Douglas hawthorn) or any wild roses. And near the Umatila River in eastern Oregon, wild roses would be very common, but hawthorn trees would not. Also, rose hips are quite edible and high in vitamin C. Hawthorn pips are not particularly edible before the first frost, and September 2nd seems quite early for that. Just thoughts from your friendly neighborhood botanist.... :)
Good points on the rose buds/rose hips issue. I guess I had read that rose buds of the hawthorn were sometimes also called rose hips some perhaps conflated the two? But, also, perhaps they were desperate for food and anything/everything (including a specimen owl) looked good.
The thing is that neither roses nor hawthorns would have buds in September. They would both have fruits, neither of which are called buds. Rose fruits are hips, and have been called that for centuries, and hawthorn fruits are haws, also a very old name. Haws are not edible until after a frost has softened and sweetened them. Not edible in the sense of making you puke because they are so astringent. So that makes me think that Townsend's rose buds must have actually been rose hips. Regardless, the post is a fascinating look at the lives and diets of early naturalist-explorers! (Also, it makes me wonder how many Indians watched them scrabble for food and shook their heads in pity.)
Looked into you a bit after recently discovering you on Subhack and am now reading Stories In Stones! I had to skip right to the chapter about the petrified wood gas station (of course).
It’s GREAT reading and I am sure to enjoy the rest of it. Really looking forward to the rest of your works!
There is mention of your walking tours of stone architecture in Seattle. As it’s a 2009 book, I wonder if you plan any in the future ~ during better weather? 4th generation local here. (Sending coal from Wilkerson to a bratty cousin for Christmas…)
Best of all the holidays to you and your family! Your words are enriching mine. Thank you.
Ali, thanks for your kind words. Yes, I still lead walking tours periodically in Seattle. I don't have any planned at present. (People seem to avoid the walks in the winter, which seems a bit silly to me. I do try to keep my Walks/Talks page updated, as well as posting information through this newsletter. Happy holidays to you.
Clearly David, you give a hoot about specimen consumed. Viewed out our bus window a rhea running along side us for a kilometer or so near Argentina/Chile border. Thanks for the chuckles on a dreary day.
Admiral Nelson's body in a keg brings to mind reading about one of Napoleon's generals, who decades pickled in a keg was found to have continued to grow hair and nails after his death.
This reminds me of a blog by Pete Moyle on eating delta smelt, now an endangered species. He argues that getting populations back to the point where they can be eaten should be a goal to celebrate. Kind of an interesting perspective: Eating Delta Smelt | California WaterBlog https://californiawaterblog.com/2020/04/05/eating-delta-smelt/
Absolutely fascinating, David! Audubon's culinary commentary is particularly interesting, if horrifying.
I wonder though, if Townsend's "rose buds" were actually rose hips, the fruit of wild roses. On September 2nd, I'd be very surprised if there were buds on Crataegus douglassii (Douglas hawthorn) or any wild roses. And near the Umatila River in eastern Oregon, wild roses would be very common, but hawthorn trees would not. Also, rose hips are quite edible and high in vitamin C. Hawthorn pips are not particularly edible before the first frost, and September 2nd seems quite early for that. Just thoughts from your friendly neighborhood botanist.... :)
Good points on the rose buds/rose hips issue. I guess I had read that rose buds of the hawthorn were sometimes also called rose hips some perhaps conflated the two? But, also, perhaps they were desperate for food and anything/everything (including a specimen owl) looked good.
The thing is that neither roses nor hawthorns would have buds in September. They would both have fruits, neither of which are called buds. Rose fruits are hips, and have been called that for centuries, and hawthorn fruits are haws, also a very old name. Haws are not edible until after a frost has softened and sweetened them. Not edible in the sense of making you puke because they are so astringent. So that makes me think that Townsend's rose buds must have actually been rose hips. Regardless, the post is a fascinating look at the lives and diets of early naturalist-explorers! (Also, it makes me wonder how many Indians watched them scrabble for food and shook their heads in pity.)
Susan, All good points. Happy holidays, with or without rose buds, rose hips, Rosebud, or rose quartz. Okay, ran out of thinking power there. David
Hah! Happy Solstice and beyond. :)
So very entertaining thank you!
I had heard before that Mr Audubon was not a very pleasant character, this puts detail into that idea.
And thanks for the embedded stories as well!
DB Williams
Looked into you a bit after recently discovering you on Subhack and am now reading Stories In Stones! I had to skip right to the chapter about the petrified wood gas station (of course).
It’s GREAT reading and I am sure to enjoy the rest of it. Really looking forward to the rest of your works!
There is mention of your walking tours of stone architecture in Seattle. As it’s a 2009 book, I wonder if you plan any in the future ~ during better weather? 4th generation local here. (Sending coal from Wilkerson to a bratty cousin for Christmas…)
Best of all the holidays to you and your family! Your words are enriching mine. Thank you.
Ali, thanks for your kind words. Yes, I still lead walking tours periodically in Seattle. I don't have any planned at present. (People seem to avoid the walks in the winter, which seems a bit silly to me. I do try to keep my Walks/Talks page updated, as well as posting information through this newsletter. Happy holidays to you.
Yes - fascinating.
Check out a 1973 piece by John McPhee - "Travels in Georgia' - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1973/04/28/travels-in-georgia. Good take on it here - https://www.sheilaomalley.com/?p=68956. Similar people at the Burke Museum included my late wife Carol, known to serve things like roadkill bear for thanksgiving.
Thanks for sharing those.
Clearly David, you give a hoot about specimen consumed. Viewed out our bus window a rhea running along side us for a kilometer or so near Argentina/Chile border. Thanks for the chuckles on a dreary day.
OOOOH OOOOH, humor like mine!! So cool you got to see one!
Great stories, very memorable. Thanks David. I won't use my (nonexistent) rifle as a plow though.
Thanks, Rick. Prudent plan on not using your not-rifle!
My God, Audubon ATE his subjects...
Guess he had to have something to do after shooting and drawing them!
You can’t say that about most scientists, is my point.
Admiral Nelson's body in a keg brings to mind reading about one of Napoleon's generals, who decades pickled in a keg was found to have continued to grow hair and nails after his death.
Between the post and this comment, I’ve lost my dinner appetite. 🤢🤮
No worries: Grand Plans to make up for it on Solstice!
This reminds me of a blog by Pete Moyle on eating delta smelt, now an endangered species. He argues that getting populations back to the point where they can be eaten should be a goal to celebrate. Kind of an interesting perspective: Eating Delta Smelt | California WaterBlog https://californiawaterblog.com/2020/04/05/eating-delta-smelt/
A sea captain navigating in Oregon. Yikes!!!!! Loved this article David.
Sally, I thought that was odd/funny too.