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)