I have been learning too, and its not easy trying to compare the real plant to pictures. If you stick with it, and just constantly skim through your books with color photos of plants in your area, then as you go on hikes plants will begin to look recognizable. I will then pluck a branch and bring it home to look up, or bring my field guide on hikes. I found some wild elder trees and made an elderberry syrup this winter and no one in my family got sick. I just found I have a ton of Cleavers in my yard, they are spindly little plants that stick to you and are known to clean the lymphatic system and have been used as a cancer cure, besides being nutritious. Also, dandelions are very edible and very nutricious. I have wild violets too, in the yard, all parts edible. I went on a hike and found at least 10 different edible plant types in a mile. There's a lot out there, just keep at it.