Full Spring Ahead

As we enter full spring in zone 6b and 7, what should you be looking for?

Flowers:

Pink Magnolia - gingery, cardamom flavor; petals only, no sepals or calyx

Redbud - sweet pea flavor; harvest as small buds

Violets - mild, violet flavor

Virginia Bluebells - fishy flavor for seafood

Lilac - strong lilac flavor

Chive Flower - allium flavor

(Virginia Bluebells in Mayapples)

Spices:

Wild Garlic - pungent garlic flavor

Garlic Mustard Roots - mild horseradish/wasabi flavor

Pine & Fir Needles, Spruce Tips - citrus, floral with a very light scent of pine/fir/spruce

(Wild Garlic)

Mushrooms:

Morels

Oysters

Wine Caps

(Blonde Morels)

Greens:

Dandelion - spinach like; no bitterness

Chickweed - bright, succulent greent flavor; avoid mouse-ear chickweed

Brassicaceae - varying flavors from mild broccoli to spicy/bitter mustard

(Dandelion Greens & Flower)

Tea:

Rosacaceae

(Right Corner: Strawberry Leaves, Left Corner: Multiflora Leaves)