If you live on the East Coast, you've heard of it. It's part of Maryland but a world away. The Eastern Shore lies below the Mason Dixon line and just over the Chesapeake from mainland Maryland.
Along rivers that feed into the Chesapeake, small towns, farms and a sense of community has thrived over the years.
I love that fishermen are called watermen.
We had a short escape there this weekend to visit the Newlyweds. Friday night there was a big score when we found a ripe pokeberry bush. OK, we had just had Daiquiries on the dock so maybe a bit more enthusiastic than normally. But then again, I really love pokeberries.
Pokeberries are fantastic for inks and dyeing. They are poisonous so don't eat them. But the spring shoots are edible and eaten quite a bit in the south.
If you are using them to dye cloth, you will need 2-1, berries to dry weight fabric. Strip them from the stems.
Pokeberries (great name, huh?) grow in disturbed areas - at the edges of woods, say or where some housing developments have gone up all over the US.
They will probably still be green right now but over the next 4 weeks they'll ripen. So hop on it and claim a Pokeberry bush in your neighborhood.
I made her do it (but it didn't take much). We pick a bunch of stems and they are now tucked into the fridge. I'm going to try to make a shelf-stable pokeberry ink this week. Or maybe freezing them would be the best option.
Farmers Market, my favorite coffee shop, Evergrain Bread Co. in Chestertown,
a swim in the Chesapeake and a massive crab fest with Maryland's state desert (huh?), Smith Island cake before we rolled home.
What did you do this lovely summer weekend?
Hi Diana, looks like a fantastic good time. I just got back from a carnivale cruise to Nova Scotia from NYC harbor. Wonderful time and yes, I ate a lot. I live in NE Philly, it's been pretty cool, ( lovin it). Noticed in my garden this am the leaves starting to fall a little coming up on my favorite season. Going to visit ,Meadowbrook farms in your area soon to do some fall scaping.
Thanks for sharing and always inspiring.
Julia/NE Philly
Posted by: Julia | 08/19/2013 at 02:40 PM
My grandhearts were here so we went to the beach and played in the sand, collected some more heart-stones, paddled in the sea and marvelled that the winter's day was so mild.
Why are pokeberries called pokeberries I wonder?
Posted by: Wendy @ the Late Start Studio | 08/19/2013 at 04:18 PM
So glad you had a lovely beach-y weekend. Maybe pokeberries are so named because it is such fun to poke them and hear that little pop and see the red squirt? Just guessing :)
Posted by: Diana Trout | 08/19/2013 at 07:16 PM
I am 10 minutes from Meadowbrook Farms and dont get there enough. What a fantastic place. We took a drive up to NS and Prince Edward Island and camped along the way - years ago. It is spectacular! It would be fun to meet at MF! I love to take reference pictures there.
Posted by: Diana Trout | 08/19/2013 at 07:19 PM
"The American name of pokeweed is derived from the Native American word “pocan” (alternately spelled “pokan”) which means red dye or blood red." And there is a rumor that the Dec of Independence was written with pokeberry ink. But more likely written with iron gall/pokeberry ink. Interesting.
Posted by: Diana Trout | 08/19/2013 at 10:14 PM
I bet your daughter is still wearing the pokeberry ink since you left her. lol
She sure is attractive.
Barb
NC
Posted by: Barb | 08/19/2013 at 11:59 PM
Isn't the Eastern Shore grand? It's such a world apart from the rest of Maryland. I love your pokeberries remarks, Daiquiri-fueled or not. Thank you for sharing. You could not have picked a nicer summer to visit. Maryland has been blessed by unusually dry weather.
Normally I am moaning and complaining about the sticky heat by now. Oh, but the worst is yet to come as I look at the forecast for the next few days. Still, I've been enjoying the advantage of the dry, breathable air to spend as much time outside as possible. It's made me much happier then I've ever been since I moved to this marshy place 21 years ago.
Posted by: Maria D. | 08/20/2013 at 06:13 AM
I'm glad my little left-field-wondering led you on such an interesting journey. :)
Posted by: Wendy @ the Late Start Studio | 08/20/2013 at 02:30 PM
I'll bet she wears it everyday
Posted by: Diana Trout | 08/21/2013 at 07:27 PM
I do love the Eastern Shore. I'm planning a retreat down there for next May - been wanting to for ages now. Yes, the stickies. Ugh. We're in the thick of it right now in Philadelphia. September is right around the corner! Do you live down there Maria?
Posted by: Diana Trout | 08/21/2013 at 07:29 PM