Purples

There is no purple like an autumn purple, rich and deep. I let a few volunteers grow in my yard this year where an older section near my deck now gets too much shade to be an herb garden. We are recalculating.

Just beware, pokeberries are highly toxic, all parts of the plant, and while the birds eat them and they are pretty, it’s best not to touch the berries or even stems without gloves. And sadly, though the berries look so lusciously midnight purple, the dye they make is crimson and fades easily, but good enough to coat solar cells to absorb energy. The plants are also an essential element of traditional medicine—as long as you are careful!

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