Wild Garlic and Fennel Soup

A perfect gift for me would be a guided walk with a botanist/forager extraordinaire. I know there are so many plants all around me worthy of my plate (80% of plants are comestible; not all 80% are delectable, though), but I just don't know how to identify them.

However, I do know alliums when I see--and smell--them; so during a drive with S and my mil, when I spied beautiful globes of clustered flowers bobbing amidst the tall grasses, I knew I had to go back with a trowel for a little wildcrafting.

In the prairie behind my mother-in-law's house, I also stumbled upon some fennel. Perfect for mixing with that wild garlic. Along with some narrowleaf plantain and wild violet* leaves, we had the makings of what I call my Poor Girl Soups.  Wild Garlic and Fennel Soup probably sounds more appetizing to most, I'm sure. 
 

If you'd like to make something similar, first go a-gathering:

( Recipe under the cut )

I think she approves. :D
_______________

* With all plants, know what you are gathering! If you can't make a positive ID, don't eat it, and don't consider me an expert or use my photos as your only guide. Don't confuse violets with lily-of-the-valley, a plant that likes similar growing conditions to violets and has a similar leaf. The best way to identify violets is wait until the plant is in flower.