Des Moines, Iowa

In season now

• Black Walnuts

  Where: Scattered throughout Des Moines neighborhoods, parks, and woodlots; look for large trees with compound leaves and green, bumpy fruit on the ground.

  Harvest fallen green husks now; crack open to extract the hard-shelled nut inside. Wear gloves—the husk stains brown and is difficult to remove. Cure nuts in a warm, dry place for 4–6 weeks before cracking.

  Look-alikes: Butternut walnuts have elongated, sticky husks and are less common in Des Moines; black walnuts are rounder and more abundant.

• Hickory Nuts

  Where: Shagbark and pignut hickories grow in Des Moines woodlots and older residential areas; look for tall trees with peeling bark and clusters of nuts in thin, four-part husks.

  Collect fallen nuts with husks splitting open. Remove husk, dry for 2–3 weeks, then crack the hard shell with a hammer or vise. Shagbark nuts are larger and sweeter than pignut.

  Look-alikes: Black walnuts have rounder, thicker husks and stain hands dark brown; hickory husks are thinner and split into four segments.

• Wild Grapes

  Where: Riverbanks of the Des Moines River and Raccoon River, fence rows, and disturbed areas; look for woody vines with tendrils and clusters of small, dark purple berries.

  Pick fully dark berries (avoid red or green ones). Eat fresh or cook into jam; seeds are large and bitter, so strain if making juice. Peak harvest is mid-September.

  Look-alikes: Pokeweed berries are similar but grow on herbaceous stems and are poisonous; wild grape vines are woody and have tendrils.

• Elderberries

  Where: Wetland edges, stream banks, and disturbed areas throughout Des Moines; look for shrubs 2–4 m tall with compound leaves and large, flat-topped clusters of dark purple berries.

  Harvest fully dark berries only; green or red berries are toxic. Cook before eating (raw berries cause stomach upset). Excellent for syrup and jam.

  Look-alikes: Water hemlock has similar white flower clusters but grows in wet areas and is deadly; elderberry clusters are flat-topped and berries are dark purple.

• Autumn Olive

  Where: Disturbed roadsides, field edges, and sunny openings; look for shrubs with narrow, silvery-green leaves and small, speckled red berries.

  Harvest ripe red berries now; they're tart and astringent but improve after frost. Eat fresh, blend into smoothies, or dry. High in lycopene.

  Look-alikes: Russian olive has similar leaves but grows as a small tree and berries are yellow-brown; autumn olive berries are distinctly red with silver speckles.

• Pawpaw Fruit

  Where: Wooded areas and stream banks in southern Des Moines suburbs; look for small understory trees with large, drooping leaves and greenish-yellow, oblong fruits.

  Harvest when fruit yields to gentle pressure and skin yellows. Eat fresh by scooping flesh with a spoon; discard the large seeds. Flavor is tropical, like banana-mango.

  Look-alikes: No dangerous look-alikes; pawpaw is the only native North American tropical fruit and is unmistakable once you know the tree.