Urtica dioica

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) season was still going strong in my favorite Denver-area patch a couple days ago. I collect the growing tips for greens up until they start flowering. This patch has a lot of poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) but I am not too concerned about walking through it. I suppose a photodermatitis skin reaction is possible if you get the juice on you, as this is a Carrot family plant, but I was wearing pants and I honestly never have an issue. Stinging nettles may seem int

Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) are covered with little hairs that sting or irritate your skin but they are concentrated on the stems and the parts of the leaves that are closest to the stems. You can harvest with gloves or pay attention and grab just the tips of the leaves as you snip them. Herbalists like to say that if you respect the nettle, you won’t get stung….what do you think, fact or fiction? Either way, cooking the nettles gets rid of the sting. We love them in hot tea with honey, in