For those of you interested in hunting wild mushrooms, the morel is just about the only one I would trust my identification of to collect and eat. 
Morchella esculenta, the true morel, is a prized edible and comes up in the spring. It comes up about the time the mayapples bloom, and is often found in clusters under certain types of trees. There are look-a-likes and false morels, so ID is crucial. Mushroom hunters are very secretive about locations, as morels tend to come up year after year. After 27 years, a solitary morel popped up in our yard! I won't eat it, but will hope for more next year.....
NFG 4/3/2018
