Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) is one of the very first native shrubs to bloom each spring in our area. These medium to tall shrubs (8-18′ tall) can be mass of white flowers in April, prominently displayed on the hills around Peshastin and beyond. They are found throughout Washington, as well as from Alaska and across Canada, south […]
Harvesting summer fruits
One of the great pleasures of summer in Central Washington is the abundance of fresh fruit to enjoy: cherries! peaches! serviceberries! Over the past two months I’ve been harvesting a variety of native fruits and extracting their seeds in preparation for next year’s seedlings. With some species I’ve had to compete with birds to get me […]
Serviceberry – or is it Saskatoon?
Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) is a widespread shrub and member of the Rose Family found on both sides of the Cascades in Washington, with a range that extends from Alaska to California and east to the Dakotas and New Mexico. Its common names are many, perhaps owing to its wide distribution: Saskatoon, sarvisberry, Juneberry, shadbush, pigeon […]