A Walk In The Woods

We decided to take a stroll through the woods today to see what we could see, in particular, hunting morel mushrooms.  While there is no doubt spring is on it's way, no morels were to be found...it's not warm enough up here on the mountain...but soon these delectable mushrooms that look a little like a brain will be fruiting everywhere (or at least we hope so). 

I did however, spot many other exciting things I thought I'd share...

My first find was this round-leaf yellow violet.  It's the first true flowering plant I've seen this spring, and it was growing near our creek.  What excited me most was the anticipation that purple violets should be blooming soon too...and that means I can make violet jelly again...which is one of the best jelly's I've ever tasted, with a unique flavor and simply delicious!

Not long after seeing the yellow violets, I walked past this grassy fern...so lovely with the sun shining on it!

Then we found this egg, stolen from it's nest by a scavenger that savagely tore it apart and scarfed down the tiny little being that was growing inside...OK, that's my overly dramatic interpretation of what could have happened, I really have no idea, but it makes for a good story, unless you have an aversion to that sort of thing and then it's just a horrible story and sorry to put you through it.

These cool twisted vines have been in the same spot for a very long time...one of the things I love about early spring is you can see so many things in the woods that are always there but are not always noticeable...the bare nakedness of early spring is enhanced by the sun, which is hidden during the winter! 

Mountain Man and I both know we have read about this plant before and believe it might be a wild edible...it looks like a velvety leafed cabbage, but we can't recall what it is, and can't seem to find it no matter how we search.  We are on a mission to discover it and will let you know what we find out when we find out! In the meantime, do you know what this plant is?

And then, eureka, I found it!  A small patch of violets!  I'm so excited, and you will be hearing all about my violet jelly very soon!

Finally, and as exciting as violets, was finding my first among many dandelions.  We love dandelion greens for a salad (delightfully bitter and healthy), and the flowers make lovely wine and can also be eaten raw or breaded and fried.  Most people consider them a weed, we consider them a delicacy!

One of the things I love about spring is all the wild edibles that surround us...you'll be hearing all about our foraging expeditions.  One of the things I don't so much love about spring is it brings warmer temperatures, and though I am happy about not having to burn wood in the stove, and today is the first day I have kept the front door and a few of the windows cracked open, I know this means continued warming, and for me, I'm happy with the upper 60's and lower 70's and more importantly, low humidity!  I really don't like to sweat unless I am exercising...

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise