Saxon Woods Park
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Saxon Woods Park's forested areas and swamps are excellent places for early spring foraging, and we'll be very busy with a variety of native and exotic plant species as we explore these habitats. The sunny borders between woodlands and open areas provide prime habitat for cold weather wild herbs and greens. We'll look for sheep sorrel, with its wonderful lemony flavor, and hairy bittercress, a mustard green with a bite that's neither bitter or hairy-tasting. Poor man's pepper, another common, delicious wild mustard, could also be coming up by now. And its even more abundant relative, garlic mustard, will be taking over the forest. The edge of the woods is also full of burdock, a delicious and healthful taproot, which may or may not be up at this time. |
Sheep Sorrel Leaves These sour-flavored leaves make a fine addition to salads, sandwiches, and soups. |
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In the woods, we'll hunt for more edible and medicinal herbs and beverages such as root beer-flavored sassafras, wintergreen-flavored black birch twigs, and the first shoots of jewelweed, a preventative for poison ivy.
We'll also look for the dead, overwintered stalks of ramps, the world's best onion species, to locate the flavorful bulbs. The woods could even have early season mushrooms. We'll be looking for oyster mushrooms, tree ears, and enoki mushooms, all gourmet treats. |
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The 90-minute walking tour begins at 10 AM, Saturday, March 21, at the Saxon Woods parking lot north of the Hutchinson River Parkway, near the swimming pool, not the southern entrance.
Call (914) 835-2153 at least 24 hours in advance to reserve a place. |
