While strolling the neighborhood taking pictures of the flooded areas, I noticed on the ground beneath me the most beautiful sight... wild strawberries. I loved collecting these as a child to "cook" in my miniature cookware and play stove. They smell heavenly and are even edible.
The fruit ripens in late spring or early summer. Much smaller than commercial strawberries, wild strawberries take much longer to collect, but taste just as sweet. Collect a few and add them to cereal, or pancakes, oatmeal, fruit salad, sauces, or other desserts. In fact, while plating your next meal, just throw on a few for added color. If nothing else you'll be the hit of your dinner party and feel a little like Laura Ingalls Wilder, to boot!
And don't worry...there are no poisonous plants that resemble strawberries, but there's a related edible plant called the wood strawberry with yellow flowers and a similar fruit surrounded by hairy leaves. It has no flavor.
Did you know....?
Earls, dukes, princes, and marquises used the wild strawberry's beautifully shaped leaves as emblems on their crowns.
In Europe, the strawberry flower means "Be alert." Iit also signifies innocence. In the past, a woman would thread strawberries on grass stems for the one she loves.
Scandinavians believed when a child passed away, the goddess Frigga smuggled the baby's soul to heaven inside a strawberry.
Bavarian peasants tied baskets of strawberries to their cattle's horns so elves could enjoy the fruit at night, and return the favor by magically using their magic to make the peasants prosperous.
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