Definitely Spring April 18th, 2017
It is the middle of April and all mushroom enthusiasts are thinking about morels. However, in South-Western Ontario, overnight temperatures still dip down to around 0° C and even into the minuses, telling me that morel season is still a couple of weeks away.
The other plants, edible and not, are progressing well.
Chicory is now really best to harvest and can be consumed as a salad or a cooked vegetable. This plant is not native to North America and usually can be found around human habitats. It sometimes looks very much like dandelion, but it's leaves have fine hairs on the underside, while the dandelion leaf is totally hairless.
Dandelions are everywhere and quickly preparing to bloom. It is a good edible and one of my favorites. The perfect specimen for picking looks like this:
The Stinging Nettle is starting nicely. It is an excellent spinach substitute in any recipe.
Coltsfoot (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/coltsfoot.htm) can be spotted on the edge of fields and at roadsides. It is interesting because it develops flowers before any leaves start to develop. Native to Europe, it was used as a medicinal plant. It was introduced to Canada in the early 20th century.
In the forest, skunk cabbage is developing nicely and looks majestic with big leaves and a bright green color.
Ramps are now starting to form bulbs and now can be used as a very tasty cooked vegetable. The patches I frequent are progressing nicely and expanding.
Unfortunately over my years of foraging, I witnessed total destruction of many ramp patches by over-harvesting. I am afraid that harvesting ramps will soon become illegal in Ontario as it already is in Quebec. Everyone should bear in mind that a maximum of 10% should be harvested from any patch, preferably harvesting carefully from the middle so as not to interfere with patch expansion.
New growth mushrooms are still quite rare.
The other plants, edible and not, are progressing well.
Chicory is now really best to harvest and can be consumed as a salad or a cooked vegetable. This plant is not native to North America and usually can be found around human habitats. It sometimes looks very much like dandelion, but it's leaves have fine hairs on the underside, while the dandelion leaf is totally hairless.
Dandelions are everywhere and quickly preparing to bloom. It is a good edible and one of my favorites. The perfect specimen for picking looks like this:
The Stinging Nettle is starting nicely. It is an excellent spinach substitute in any recipe.
Coltsfoot (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/coltsfoot.htm) can be spotted on the edge of fields and at roadsides. It is interesting because it develops flowers before any leaves start to develop. Native to Europe, it was used as a medicinal plant. It was introduced to Canada in the early 20th century.
In the forest, skunk cabbage is developing nicely and looks majestic with big leaves and a bright green color.
Ramps are now starting to form bulbs and now can be used as a very tasty cooked vegetable. The patches I frequent are progressing nicely and expanding.
Unfortunately over my years of foraging, I witnessed total destruction of many ramp patches by over-harvesting. I am afraid that harvesting ramps will soon become illegal in Ontario as it already is in Quebec. Everyone should bear in mind that a maximum of 10% should be harvested from any patch, preferably harvesting carefully from the middle so as not to interfere with patch expansion.
New growth mushrooms are still quite rare.
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