If the mosquitoes and poison ivy are in full fling - so are the wild raspberries. Wearing an old oversized Tshirt as a collecting basket (just fold up the front hem and voila! a fruit basket) I collected about 4 cups-full from our neighborhood patch.
Last month I collected a LOT of mulberries from a wild tree and made a jam with lemon juice, grated ginger and mulberries - ludicrously tasty.
As for Shepherd's Purse shown above - I've always called it Shepherd Purse - it's a weed - and if you have a yard - you have it don't worry. Now that the lettuce has bolted (turned to seed) and is bitter, this weed makes a great substitute.
On a danger note - be aware that deadly nightshade - either black or red little berries with tomato plant-like leaves - vining its way, typically through the wild berries and just about everywhere
To your left is a weed called Giant Hogweed - don't go NEAR it - grows up to 14 feet high and is a federally listed noxious weed whose sap can blister skin and even cause blindness. Do not mow, cut or weed whack the plant, as it will just send up new growth and put you at risk for being exposed to sap – the same kind of thing that would happen with poison ivy or sumac. If you get sap on your clothes or body, wash it off. There's been only a few plants sighted on Long Island, but if you see it call the DEC Hogweed Hotline at (845) 256-3111
Just as a clarification, the plant next to your comment about shepherd's purse is actually lamb's quarter. It is great for salads, as is shepherd's purse, but very, very different! Because of the medicinal uses and potency of shepherd's purse, it is important to know what you are using and how.
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