From the simplicity of the backyard all the way to international trade, Kentuckys wild plants and flowers stand tall, literally and figuratively. The deep serene woods, fallow fields and peaceful dappled glades of our commonwealth are home to more than 100 known medicinal plants and herbs. According to John Cotten with the Division of Value-Added Wood Promotion in the Department of Agriculture, there are around 100 medicinal plants native to Kentucky. Barks and roots, leaves, stems, flowers, seeds and pollen of plants account for many ointments, poultices, teas, tonics, tinctures, potions and potpourris that have beneficial uses for humans as well as being enjoyable. But heed this early warning. It should be said that at the same time these plants may be beneficial, there are risks associated with medicinal herbs and a little learning might be a very dangerous thing. Cotten and others point out that, You have to be very careful about selecting some plants and barks, because if youre not, the results could be fatal. However, Cotten says many native plants can be used safely as relaxants and symptom relievers for a variety of illnesses as well as fragrant teas. For example, the spiked blazing star, or gayfeather, and other blazing star plants are thought to be a diuretic and a tonic. Historically, spiked blazing star was brewed as a root tea and used as a folk remedy for kidney and bladder ailments, colic and painful menses. Some gargled it for sore throats and others worked it into a poultice to put on snakebite. The spiked blazing star (or gayfeather or dense blazing star) is this years Kentucky wild flower of the year. This beauty can grow to seven feet tall with its light purple, cone-shaped flower crest at the top. It grows along wooded slopes, soggy or dry, and in meadows, open areas and barrens all across in eastern and western Kentucky. A member of the aster family, it is one of several blazing stars native to Kentucky. As for wildlife, the spiked blazing star attracts hummingbirds, birds and many species of butterflies. On a larger scale, a native plant of the commonwealth is ginseng, long known as potent and valuable flora. Ginseng is among the most popular medicinal plants in the world, as well as being one of the most lucrative to harvest. Kentucky is one of the largest producers of American ginseng, harvesting tons of roots from the wild herb. North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio and Indiana are also significant ginseng-producing states. The vast majority of wild ginseng goes to overseas markets where it is processed and sold as liquid extracts, capsules, chewing gum, teas, candy and even put in cigarettes. Its uses include treating rheumatism, anemia and insomnia. It allegedly has aphrodisiac properties as well. Ginseng has been used in cosmetics, soaps, colognes, perfumes and even shampoo. In America is it a popular additive in energy boosters. Annual exports average 122,000 pounds with between 80 and 90 percent going to east Asia. One pound of wild ginseng can fetch $250-500; a single ginseng root between $40 and $60. Wisconsin is the leading producer of cultivated ginseng. Another valuable wild herb in Kentucky is goldenseal, which grows in the same area as American ginseng. The name comes from its bright yellow roots. It is less popular than ginseng but its roots are harvested from the wild and used in numerous herbal products, such as cold remedies, a wash for skin diseases, wounds and for sore, inflamed eyes. Goldenseal root was traditionally known as a natural antibiotic and its root brewed as a strong tea for indigestion. Goldenseal root is currently used in some treatments of cold and flu symptoms and to soothe mucous membranes of the body. Aside: Here is an opportunity to pursue detailed information on medicinal plants and herbs. Morehead State University will offer an herbal medicine workshop Forest Botanical and Domestication of Wild Medicinal from 10 a.m. until noon on June 27, on the Laughlin Health Building lawn as part of the Appalachian Celebration, which runs June 23-29. The workshop, taught by Linda Heller of the Mountain Tradition Cooperative (sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture), includes mountain traditions of using wild plants and herbs and the profit potential of herbal medicines. A botanical nature walk, led by Daymon Morgan, will tour woodland in Morehead viewing and identifying various herbs and medicinal plants. The nature walk will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on June 27. Here is this weeks fishing report:Barren River Lake: Surface temperature 70-74 degrees with lower lake clear and creeks stained. Bass fishing is fair to good. Fish are moving spawning grounds and hitting medium-running crankbaits and spinners and fluttering plastic worms in the shallows. Hybrids up to 10 pounds are very good on the surface from the dam to the islands on spooks, pop-Rs and chug bugs. Crappie fishing is fair with most fish in the brush in 5 feet to 8 feet of water. Catfish are good on cut bait and live minnows along rocky banks and log falls. Lake Barkley: Water level at the dam is 366, with surface temperature averaging around 69 degrees into the low 70s. Lake Barkley was muddy in the channel with creeks clearing slightly. There is still a lot of debris in the lake; be careful running at night and low-light conditions. Largemouth bass are hitting flipping jigs, tubes, lizards and sinking worms in and around buck brush. Ripping and fluttering spinnerbaits in the shallows and in the flooded timber brought out some hawgs. The crappie are slow, with very few catches at 10 feet to 15 feet of water using small minnows and minnow and jig combinations. Bluegill are very good on wax worms and redworms along gravel banks, back up to where they would be if the water were lower, they are still there. Kentucky Lake: Surfaces temperature ranging from 70 to 73 degrees. The lake has been rising still over summer pool. The lake is stained in the channel and some of the bays are stained also. Largemouth coming out of the bushes with pig and jig combos and spinners run through the tops of weeds and brush in flood areas. Smallmouth bass have been good on the main lakes primary and secondary points on the east side of the lake and on secondary points in the bays using Texas rigged tubes and tube jigs as well as small crankbaits. The crappie are slow with very few catches at 10-15 feet of water using small minnows and minnow and jig combinations. Bluegill are good, but fish deeper because usual bedding areas are flooded. Bait with wax worms and night crawlers under bobbers. Catfish are in the bays and are being taken by fishing bottom rigs using nightcrawlers, leeches and cut baits near rocky shorelinesRough River: Surface temperatures are around 72-75 degrees with the main lake clear to stained in some areas. Black bass are fair to good, hitting on soft plastics, some top water early and on overcast days around brush at three to five feet. Crappie have been fair on minnows around stickups and along shorelines. Bluegill were good on crickets, mealworms, wax worms under bobbers, over gravel and along rocky shorelines. Catfish fair to good, still fishing cutbait, nightcrawlers and liver off the points of coves and along rocky banks.