Vanilla Leaf Blooming

I get to see all the spring blooming vegetation while walking the skid roads of the forest. Right now the Vanilla Leaf is sending pretty white shafts flowers up from the center of their soft green carpet of leaves.

The plants grow in both sunlight and semi-shady areas and congregate in spots where the soil had been disturbed in previous areas of logging.

The moisture in the leaves has been reported to be used for bug repellent and I use by crumpling them in the palm of my hand and rubbing up and down my arms when the mosquitoes are bothering me and when I can remember to do so.

I also tried the tea made from the plant as folklore and trekking articles touted. I wasn’t a big fan, the tea did have a bit of hint of vanilla as the name of the plant suggests, but it mostly just tasted green. I may still harvest a few tender leaves and try the tea again just to see if it is me or if I have a new addition to the mint that I enjoy all year long.