Wear long pants no matter how warm it is. Apply insect repellent since ticks are active at the same time of the year too Collect more than you think you’ll need to make up for the ones you’ll probably end up tossing. Scan the ground around you for other plants like poison ivy or nettles before you start picking so that you don’t find out the hard way. Wait until the morning dew has dried before harvesting the flowers and greens. If possible, pick from different sections of your backyard to ensure another harvest from the seeds of the leftover plants. Be 110-percent sure of your identification before eating any plants.