The leaves of nettles naturally look somewhat similar to mint, so I got a nasty surprise when I bent down to pick some.
When I saw the nettles this time, I knew what to expect. I made sure my jeans were tucked into my hiking boots so that the nettles could not touch my bare skin. I did NOT need a repeat of my first experience with nettles.
Stinging nettles can naturally be found in many places, typically in meadows and under tree cover. They grow to a few feet high in summer and die back in winter. I also read that they can often be found on the sites of abandoned (old and forgotten) buildings, which is where I saw them here. The site seems to be an old concrete slab that once formed the foundation for a building.
Stinging nettles often grow quickly where other plants take time to develop, so the sites of human activity and forest fires are quickly reclaimed by them, as was the case here.
I do not think we should be too worried about stinging nettles, at least not worried for them. There are plenty of plants and animals that need our protection, but nettles are very good at protecting themselves. I have seen them all over Landau and the surrounding areas, and they are thriving in every forest. We are the ones that need to protect ourselves from them. Wear close-toed shoes and long pants when you hike, and don't go grabbing any strange plants.
