Kissena Park
Sunday, May 25

This former colonial nursery, with a young forest, meadows, fields, and wetlands, was once part of a major river system, along with Alley Pond Park's wetlands and Flushing Meadow Park. Then ice age glaciers diverted the water to the newly formed Hudson. So you won't have to hold your breath while searching for the great variety of mid-spring wild foods these habitats contain.

Garlic mustard, field garlic, violets, pokeweed, and sassafras abound in the woodlands. Lawns and meadows provide corn-flavored chickweed, spicy poor man's pepper, sweet red clover, and sour sheep sorrel.

This is the peak of the season for the blossoms of the black locust tree, which abound along the edges of trails. The vanilla-scented flowers are ideal for salads, ice cream, and pancake batter.