#toyon

The fed and green sprout of a toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia).

Toyons are evergreen shrubs native to California. They produce red berries called pomes, which are related to apples and stone fruits such as peaches and plums.

The pomes are eaten by birds, coyotes and other animals who, in turn, effectively help spread toyon seeds.

Both plants are drought tolerant and native to Southern California. The Toyon berries are a bit too fibrous for my taste (eating them is like trying to eat cherry flavored chewing gum), but the buckwheat produces an acceptable flour substitute (from gorgeous seed heads not pictured). I'm pruning back the buckwheat to shape it up for next year, so chickens get the prunings. The young shots of the buckwheat are extremely tasty, especially when added to salad (they have a sour lemon taste like sorrel).