Devil's Club

After an Easter brunch with friends, we took a brisk walk along the nearby inlet trail. The many Devil's Club plants along the trail are still baring their teeth without the large telltale green leaves of summer. The forest is still brown with the dead limbs of windy days and last year's leaves. A strong wind kept the temperature from feeling like spring had emerged. This week looks like a cool one for late April.

Apparently, the native Alaskans have used this plant for medicinal purposes. A spice company's website sells the "root bark". Perhaps I will have to dig up a plant to try the bark in tea before the leaves appear.