Foraging for Wild Edibles: Not-your-store-bought Pickles (What to Forage in Middle to Late May)

About this event

NOTE: If you wish to attend, you must RSVP (send email to:  david.behm.curiousbynature@gmail.com) to reserve your spot for this event. Only registered participants will receive a message the day before the event with a link for you to download my Foraging for Wild Edibles: Not-your-store-bought Pickles (What to Forage in Middle to Late May) digital guide for your personal use trailside during this foraging outing.

We will be looking for these targeted plants during our outing:

• Cattail shoots
• Grape leaves
• Japanese Knotweed young stems
• Thistle young stems

Learn more about how to forage, harvest and pickle each of these species from a prior post (Foraging for Not-Your-Store-Bought Pickles!) on my Curious By Nature blog.

Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve is located along the Mohawk River in the Town of Clifton Park at the intersection of Riverview and Van Vranken roads.  A parking lot adjoins the trailhead at that intersection, adjacent to the Whipple Bridge entrance into the preserve; we’ll meet at the kiosk next to the parking lot.  We’ll then walk along the Bird Watching Trail back to the parking lot (~1.5-mile loop).  Trail surface is either crushed stone or a dirt path with occasional holes and many exposed tree roots – please wear proper footwear.

We may encounter these native blooming beauties while we’re foraging:  Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Northern Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum ssp. stewardsonii), and Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum).

Learn more about the following species from my past or forthcoming posts:

• Chokecherry (published 5/13/2023 as part of my weekly series entitled "What Wildflower Begins Blooming This Week?")
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit (“National Wildflower Week 2024 – Day 4” scheduled for 5/4/2024)

Weather cancellation:  This event will be cancelled if any of the following is occurring or is forecast for this destination at that time:

• thunderstorms (or any other severe weather),
• moderate or heavy rainfall (i.e., more than drizzle/mist or intermittent showers), or
• gusty or sustained winds (i.e., treetops are noticeably swaying back and forth).