While on a walk down a sandy dirt road to an empty little beach, I was mesmerized by the number of wild garlic mustard, honeysuckle, and stinging nettle. Both sides of the road were like a patchwork quilt of a healthy spring; vibrant green blueberry leaves, tall patches of grass, yuccas of a deep emerald…

It all got me wondering how I could bring this beauty home with me. Mimicking a wild wooded path in a garden setting is difficult, to say the least, but what about foraging some of the leafy greens and flowers?

I felt comfortable picking the garlic mustard and honeysuckle leaves, since I knew they are actually edible (and invasive), and cooked them in butter with garlic, shallots, and mushrooms. I served the dish on a bed of greens and cilantro from the garden along with grilled baby potatoes, bison steak and some Marcos Valle for the final ou-la-la touch.

What makes this experience worth writing about is the varied depth of meaning it can bring.

• On the most surface level, it was a beautiful meal and a kind gesture.
• A little deeper, it was a connection between my walk and that nice dinner. It involved imagination, preparation, and motivation.
• The real winner though, is the fact that the walk, the harvest, the cooking, and the meal itself, were all done with intention and gratitude. Gratitude for a long-anticipated spring, for a healthy relationship, for creating lasting memories just because.