RAINYRAMBLES
Foraging edible berries
BY REBECCA LEXA
Berry season has arrived in the Colum-
bia-Pacifi c region, with several native spe-
cies of edible berries widely available along
the coast, in the mountains or both.
Red huckleberries are fi nishing up their
ripe season, though some stray berries may
remain. Evergreen huckleberries are just
now getting ready to harvest. This large,
bushy shrub can be identifi ed by its small,
oval leaves with pointed tips and fi nely-ser-
rated edges.
These leaves are dark green and have
a waxy appearance. The berries, which
are quite fl avorful, grow in small clusters
toward the ends of the branches, dark blue
to black, small and perfectly round.
Leaves of salal are similar, but much
larger. The berries of this common shrub
grow in rows along pink-tinged twigs, dan-
gling underneath from small stems. These
berries are a dark blue to purple tone and
are round, about the size of blueberries.
Their taste also resembles blueberries,
though they are lighter tasting and a bit
mealy in texture. Salal often grows in large
thickets and individual plants may reach up
to 10 feet tall.
While our area features multiple species
of blackberry, only trailing blackberries are
native to the region. These berries grow on
a thin vine with sharp thorns. The plant’s
leaves, which are somewhat triangular and
have serrated edges, usually grow in groups
of three on a stem.
This vine often climbs over other plants
and structures without smothering them.
The berries are smaller than those grown
commercially, but are still quite tasty.
Two invasive blackberry species, Hima-
layan and cutleaf, grow on heavy canes that
can bend into arches if long enough. Their
ripe berries are much larger and many may
be harvested from dense thickets. Every
nonnative blackberry picked and eaten is
one less eaten by a bird that may spread
seeds somewhere else – so help yourself.
Thimbleberries are often surprising for
those who don’t realize the fruit is edible.
These red berries are softer in texture and
more hemispherical in shape than black-
berries, looking rather like a piece of candy
growing on the plant.
The leaves of thimbleberries are large
and have fi ve lobes, similar to maple leaves.
The plants can reach 8 feet in height.
All of the berries above may be found in
forests and clearings along the coast. Up in
Photos by Rebecca Lexa
the mountains, however, is the best place to
fi nd blackcap raspberries.
The leaves and canes of this berry plant
are similar to domesticated raspberries,
but the berries are a dusty black, similar
to a blackberry in color. Look for a white
layer of coating on the stems of this plant,
which gives it another name – the white-
bark raspberry.
If you’re looking for berries on public
land, make sure that foraging is allowed.
Some areas, such as Willapa National Wild-
life Refuge, prohibit taking any natural
or cultural items. If foraging is allowed,
be aware that permits may be needed and
limits may apply. Always ask permission
before foraging on private land.
Be aware of plant damage as you for-
age, too. Even breaking small branches
can open up a plant to disease. Don’t take
more than 25% of the berries on one bush
or vine, with the exception of nonnative
blackberries.
Berries are important food for wild-
life, including black bears, who eat many in
the summer as they fatten up for winter. If
you’re within range of bears, make a little
noise as you forage to avoid startling a bear
searching within the same thicket.
Also, be mindful of insects, spiders and
other small animals when foraging – it’s all
too easy to accidentally take them home.
Try collecting berries in a colander before
transferring them to a bucket or other con-
tainer to give small wildlife a chance to
escape.
Eat berries while foraging or wait for
a wash at home. Note that thimbleberries
are quite delicate and will rot quicker than
other species, so they should be eaten or
preserved as soon as possible.
All of the berries above can be incorpo-
rated into jams and jellies, alone or within
a blend of species. Treasure August, it’s the
season of these delicious harvests.
Rebecca Lexa is a naturalist, nature edu-
cator, tour guide and writer living on the
Long Beach Peninsula. Find more about
her work at rebeccalexa.com.
ABOVE: Blackberries on the vine, at various
stages of growth. LEFT: Ripe salal berries sit
in a row, growing on a common coastal plant.
RIGHT: A ripe thimbleberry grows on a shrub.
BELOW: A bright red huckleberry, similar
looking to a cherry, awaits harvest.
ORIGINAL FINE ART
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2022 // 15