September
4, 2006
This is the time of year when it's difficult to dislike blackberries. During
most of the year, we tend to notice that the nonnative blackberries monopolize
areas formerly inhabited by native plants, reduce bird and animal habitat, tear
us with their thorns, and thwart our efforts to remove them. Every late summer,
however, they manage to wheedle their way back, at least partially, into the
good graces of all but the staunchest native plant purists. How do they do
this?
It's pretty simple.
Both Armenian blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) and evergreen or cutleaf
blackberry (Rubus laciniatus) have delicious berries--almost as
good-tasting as those of our less aggressive, and less prolific, native blackberry
(Rubus ursinus), which ripen first and also disappear first. The
nonnative blackberries yield an overabundance of berries, and keep producing
them for weeks, in quantities far greater than the local human populations
could possibly consume. Many of us are tempted to "eat what is
served," and eventually learn restraint only through a series of stomach
aches, the results of simply too much fruit. In a season when most wildflowers
have long since faded, and when much of the formerly green vegetation has
shriveled up in the summer's drought, the blackberries leap out at us
unsuspecting nature lovers and seduce us into sensory indulgence. There are
worse vices than stuffing oneself with blackberries now and then. We have also
frozen copious amounts--those that escaped the maws of the pickers.
Blackberries are not the only berry of the hour, either. Salal (Gaultheria
shallon) has also entered its prime harvesting stage. I probably eat at
least as many salal as blackberries--these natives taste (and certainly are)
much more nutritious, if not always as sweet, and they also have the advantage
of lacking noticeable seeds. Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana) berries, also
native, have been ripe for weeks as well. Campfire advice suggests eating them
only in moderation; the colloquial name "chittum" may not be a result
solely of the laxative quality of the cascara's bark. Cascara berries also
taste best before, rather than after, those other, sweeter berries. Spit out
the seeds--and don't touch the bark, unless you are not putting your hands
anywhere near your mouth (see above).
Speaking of natives and nonnatives, we are excited to announce that planning is
underway for a gathering next spring that will bring together plant enthusiasts
to discuss various issues related to natives and exotics. We are especially
seeking participation from the native plant and Permaculture communities, whose
viewpoints currently often seem to be at odds. We envision a Friday afternoon
of informal tours and socializing, a Friday evening concert, and then a
Saturday-Sunday facilitated symposium filled with a variety of activities
including presentations, panel discussions, plant walks, garden and
Permaculture tours, hands-on projects, games and community-building, music and
discussion circles, meals made from organic, homegrown, and wildcrafted food,
and more. We hope to send a full announcement in our next e-newsletter.
Meanwhile, here's the blurb that accompanied my initial letter to several local
plant enthusiasts who are helping to develop this idea:
For many years, the question of the roles of native and nonnative plants in
our ecosystems and managed landscapes has elicited a great range of opinions.
Native plant enthusiasts list many nonnative plants as dangerous invaders,
while Permaculturalists may advocate the cultivation and spread of those same
species. Some native botanists endorse the selective application of herbicides
to eradicate aggressive weedy species, while Permaculturally-inclined gardeners
seem more apt to embrace "weeds." What's more, these two groups of
people often don't talk with each other or understand each other's positions.
This weekend gathering will aim to bring together these diverse communities and
help them learn what each other is up to and why, as well as educating those
who are new to these issues and perhaps forging new understandings and
syntheses among those who love plants but don't yet see eye to eye on which
plants to love and what that means in practical terms. We will examine the
roles of native plants, the impacts of nonnative plants on ecosystems, the
possible benefits of nonnative plants, how and whether it's possible to avoid
negative impacts of using exotics in the landscape, and the ethical, practical,
and ecological dimensions of our choices. We will use the 87-acre living
laboratory of
We are considering several dates for this weekend; currently, the most likely
appear to be May 11-13 or
Please also feel free to join us on tours on Wednesday, September 13 (1 and 4
pm), Wednesday, October 18 (1 and 4 pm), Sunday, November 12 (
Thanks for your ongoing interest, and hope you are enjoying the summer,
Chris