Things are greening up a bit in eastern WV, gobbler season comes in on the 22nd, looking forward to a mess of ramps soon, ditto dandelion, and some trout and crappie fishing. Snowfall wasn't so bad other than during March but it seems like it's been a very long and cold winter for some reason.

I think the snow will be melted off the hills here by early next week (finally). I'm not hearing any gobblers yet but it feels spring-like enough to get out and listen. I put my ice fishing gear away last week and have my fly rod and gear ready to fish a few nymphs on our annual opening day trout fishing excursion next week. No sign of leeks here yet, probably another week or two. I'm looking forward to dandelions and leeks as side dishes to a couple of grilled trout dinners.

Chuckles, ramps/ leeks are the culinary highlight of spring in hill country. In West Virginia and on south they are ramps. In northern PA and SW New York, they are called leeks. They are an edible wild plant that is one of the first to come up in the spring. Their flavor is unique but if I had to describe them, they are a cross between garlic and a shallot. They grow wild in damp, rich soil areas of hardwood forests in Appalachia. They are excellent cooked dozens of ways - everything from roasted to sautéed to used in soups. They are now becoming haute cuisine in five star restaurants all over the east coast. (Which may be their demise as people over harvest them). (I'll make a plug for- don't harvest more of any wild food - game, fish, or plants than you and your family can use. Always leave something to grow up for next year.)