A Dodder we will go in search of natural dyes




Witch's Hair or Dodder
Summer gathering in
Crest

 





Late Sunday Hubby Maulie and I went on our little hike in search of witch‘s hair.  
                                   What a nice surprise
                                 Look  at the wonderful cochineal!
I try to keep all my promises so I was determined to go hiking to get some dodder for my rug hooking friends. Our rug hookers group meets Tuesday so today I had to get it done.

On the way to the trail I spied some prickly pear cactus with some cochineal on it that’s a great insect for dyeing and produces a wonderful pink. I will have to go back and gather it with gloves.


Our little troop was on a hike to find more Witch’s hair. This time the witch’s hair or dodder had become hard to find. Note to self pick earlier in spring! At first we were just seeing dried up witch's hair that was brown.Further along the trail the witch’s hair had changed color more yellow instead of orange so we kept walking on the dirt trail looking for more orange witch’s hair. All we could find was a yellow color. I am really not sure how well it will dye. I love the soft yellow that dodder makes when the dodder is orange so this will be a new dye trial .

                                                           A hiking we will go




 Looking out from the trail which
goes up and down the mountain.



                                                
                          Witch's hair gathering for five rug hookers



                                                      






 picking away at the freshest orange color



 There hubby goes around the bend and kept going....






 O.K so as I stood and waited at the top of hill watching hubby disappear I started to get a little spooked The path we were on went up and then down and so even though I was above him I had rocks and mountain above me. The paths are isolated so I was hidden. First he was taking too long going around the bend searching for witch’s hair . It sure seems quiet when your by yourself. I waited about10 minutes as I yelled “Jack” There is no yell back.

 Maulie and I are looking at each other. I am thinking to myself maybe he needs to get a hearing test! I also thought what a dumb idea to let him go ahead of me Finally after the fourth time yelling he yells back. A few minutes later I see coming up the trail. a huge bag of Dodder. Jack has a look on his face like what’s the big deal. Men!

In my Cheri imagination I have Maulie eaten by a coyote and me I have been devoured by a mountain lion which has been watching from the rocks above me and has carried me off. Oh and then not to mention the rattlesnake that has gotten Hubby Jack while he is gathering the dodder. Some people are better off not using their imagination. That would be me.


Going home.