Following a week of relatively mild weather, clumps of wild onion have emerged across our lawns, offering early spring greenery; they will soon be joined by dandelions and wild violets.
Native to eastern and central North America, these perennials are easily identified by their strong onion odor. The leaves emerge from underground bulbs, festooned with rootlets; a rigid, central stem rises in summer and showy domes of pink or white flowers adorn its tip from mid summer to mid autumn.
No doubt, suburbanites enamored with pristine lawns are annoyed by the appearance of these plants. On the other hand, all parts of the wild onion are edible and a quick scan of the internet turned up more culinary articles than those devoted to control recommendations.
