This afternoon, I headed to my favorite spot for fiddleheads here in Southern Vermont and after a slow start, I found a great patch and picked a little from each bunch. I do that so that more will come next year.
As I was leaving, I saw a group of people in a nearby area and so I hurried away from my spot, hoping they didn't see where I had been or what I had been picking. I worry so about patches of ferns going extinct from overpicking so I at least try to do my part by taking just a little. Although you can see in the photo that I picked plenty! More than I ever have at one time. The timing was perfect. Some that I saw had already grown too tall and were closer to ferns than fiddleheads.
Then I decided to go check out the ramps that grow nearby. I had checked on them a week or so ago and they hadn't formed bulbs yet so I checked with some expects on the yahoo group, Northeast Mushrooms and they advised me to make good use of the leaves which are just as good as the bulbs. I love the bulbs sauteed and then cooked in cream with parmesan cheese over the top. They are delicious.
But I will try sauteing the greens like I would spinach or chard only I won't need to add garlic to these leaves! They already have a garlic flavor, for those of you who have never had ramps or wild leeks.
All in all, a great day for foraging! Bon Appetit!
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