#native berries

The fledgling robins found my Oregon Grapes, so it was time to pick them - with plenty left over for the little ones.

Grouse Whortleberry (Vaccinium scoparium) (with ant) hiding in the understory, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Pruned and took scions from the snowberry bushes - I havent pruned these guys in years and they've overgrown themselves, which led to mildew issues in the summer/fall. Thinned them out quite a bit, especially around the bases. They root so vigorously from branches I'll probably have 40 more from these 2 original bushes

Forgot a before pic for these, but theyre finally tall enough to shield my rhododendron in the hottest parts of summer! Their original intended goal but then I put the rhodie in a bench that obviously raised it's height so it took a couple extra years

Now it's raspberry and salmonberry pruning time.

This time of year its easy to see the dead, branching wood from the budded stalks of overwintering canes.

Then you just trim them down to a reasonable height so they dont break under their own weight at the end or dip the berries in mud, and cut a scion from the trimmed ends if you want. This cuts off spent buds and tells the plant to put out a lot of growth along the side buds, instead of right at the tip. I'll corral them when the new canes come up in the spring, and keep the old sticks piled in the garden in case any insects are overwintering in their pithy center.

Cut above a bud, at an angle.

Buffalo berry and Douglas Fir