Floral UK, I am, unfortunately, all too familiar with wild parsnip. I had wondered if this white-flowered plant was somehow related to wild parsnip. I didn't word my subject very well! Happy gardening today :-) ... it's hot & humid here (30+ C)

I believe it is. I was thinking of "Jerusalem lily", but that is a total different plant. I got the names confused. This thing is everywhere now, just like the wild onion/garlic. Hard to kill....

This is a spinoff off of a couple of current purslane threads. I am not pushing this book but did get an email today linking to this info about the book. Focus on the 13 - a magic number - the original colonies, etc. Here is a snip from the link... The Wild Wisdom of Weeds is the only book on foraging and edible weeds to focus on the 13 weeds found all over the world, each of which represents a complete food source and extensive medical pharmacy and first-aid kit. More than just a field guide to wild edibles, it is a global plan for human survival. Katrina Blair has spent months on end taking walkabouts in the wild, eating nothing but what she forages, and has become a wild-foods advocate, community activist, gardener and chef, teaching and presenting internationally about foraging and the healthful lifestyle it promotes. In The Wild Wisdom of Weeds she presents her philosophy, and it is sobering, realistic and ultimately optimistic. If we can open our eyes to see the wisdom found in these weeds right under our noses, instead of trying to eradicate an “invasive,” we will achieve true food security. The Wild Wisdom of Weeds is about healing ourselves both in body and in spirit, in an age where technology, commodity agriculture and processed foods dictate the terms of our intelligence. If we can become familiar with these 13 edible survival weeds found all over the world, we will never go hungry, and we will become closer to our own wild human instincts … all the while enjoying the freshest, wildest and most nutritious food there is. For free! The 13 plants found growing in every region across the world are: dandelion, mallow, purslane, plantain, thistle, amaranth, dock, mustard, grass, chickweed, clover, lambs-quarter and knotweed. These special plants contribute to the regeneration of the earth while supporting the survival of our human species; they grow everywhere where human civilization exists, from the hottest deserts to the Arctic Circle, following the path of human disturbance. Indeed, the more humans disturb the earth and put our food supply at risk, the more these 13 plants proliferate. It’s a survival plan for the ages. Including more than 100 unique recipes, Katrina Blair’s book teaches us how to prepare these wild plants from root to seed in soups, salads, slaws, crackers, pestos, seed breads and seed butters; cereals, green powders, sauerkrauts, smoothies and milks; first-aid concoctions, such as tinctures, teas, salves and soothers; self¬-care/beauty products including shampoo, mouthwash, toothpaste (and brush) and face masks; and a lot more. Whether readers are based at home or traveling, this book aims to empower individuals to maintain a state of optimal health with minimal cost and effort. THE WILD WISDOM OF WEEDS

Oh, I feel your pain. I have chickweed. I also have morning glories (?), lambs ear, and a blackberry bush - I think the previous owner loved anything that was invasive. By the end of the summer I will be ready to set fire to the whole yard...