Snowberry

"Western Snowberry" (Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

2007 July 7

Notice that the flowers are stalkless with "long styles that are hairy near the middle and stick out from the floral tube". This is what distinguishes the "Western Snowberry" from the "Common Snowberry" the latter having "short stalked, sparsely clustered flowers with hairless styles that do not stick out from the floral tube".

2007 August 9

2007 August 9

This shrub can be seen all over this area, especially down by the lake. It produces an abundance of white berries that are unfortunately not really edible. Some Native peoples did make a tonic out of them to relieve sore eyes and other peoples used them as a cure for diarrhea. The berries overwinter, food for the birds when times are tough!

"Common Snowberry" (Symphoricarpos albus)

2007 July 2 (Vancouver)
The leaves also are slightly different.

Red Osier Dogwood

"Red Osier Dogwood" (Cornus stolonifera)

2008 May 15
In Bud

2008 May 18

2008 June 11

2008 June 22

2008 June 14

2008 July 10

2007 September 3

2007 September 3

2007 September 3

2007 September 3

We found this shrub growing on a trail that would seem to be in a very dry area. we are pretty sure that there is an underground stream that runs through this area for there are a number of water loving plants in the vicinity. However, most of these plants seem to be under stress and we think it is because our water tables have dropped over these last few years of drought like conditions. In any event, this plant looks healthy even though they normally grow in moist soil ... an osier bed is a river bed.

Moose love feeding on this plant and soon after I took those pictures in September of 2007, a moose went through and gave this shrub a severe hair cut. None the less, 2008 found it making a fine come back.

The First Nations peoples put this plant to any number of uses:

• berries added to saskatoons for a sweet and sour affect
• berries used as a mouth wash
• inner bark was boiled and used to treat any number of things
• branches were used to make fishing devices
• bent branches used to mjake sweat houses
• wooden skewers

It is also a very attractive plant ... easily propagated by cuttings ... would look nice in our yard but our yard isn't all that moist!