Thanks! I know where there is quite a large group near here in uncontaminated water, and I was planning on trying them this spring.
I’ve been waiting for someone to mention milkweed but I don’t see it yet.
The pods have a few days, when they are small (2 inches long, maybe 1/2 or 1/3 grown) when they are tender and sweet if boiled and served like broccoli.
These must be caught when they are first growing and before any of the seed fibers inside have formed. Boil, drain, and boil again until tender, maybe 2 minutes rolling boil each time. If you can cut the raw pod easily with a knife, you have it at the right state to pick. If you can cut the cooked pod with a fork like broccoli, it is cooked just right. A little butter, and let me ask, have you ever tried the spice known as ‘Mrs Dash’? We love it on vegetables.