Berries in the Wrightwood area

[LasPulgas]

[Nolena]

O. K.!! The berries are ripe and I'm home!
Ripe berries include currants, elderberries, and hillside gooseberries.

[ckrobbinsnest]

Welcome home Nolena.  I've missed your posts.  Hope all went well back east.

by the way, do you know if there is any wild berries at grassy hollow?  I'm going there today and am looking to make some fresh jam.

K

[Chesslike]

Hey Nolena, have you checked the currants from the spot I told you about last year on Baden Powel ? Last year was such a bumper crop there, I was just wondering how they were this year and if it is worth a trip up there to pick some.

[Nolena]

I haven't been up there yet this year. I've been to some lower spots. The currants are good this year.

[Chesslike]

Nolena, any plans to check out the currants on BP and are the the other currants you found anywhere near as abundant as the ones on BP were last year?

[Nolena]

I plan to go up BP soon, maybe this weekend. The currants should be just about ripe up there. Let me know if you're interested in going.

[Chesslike]

Hiked up to Government Canyon today and was very disappointed in the berries. There was not a single chokecherry, nor currants, nor elderberries to be found. Unlike last year in that area when there were tons of berries.
I only saw a few rose hips and a few coffee berries. Anybody know what's up with that?

[TableMtn]

In a word--DROUGHT :-/

[Chesslike]

In a word--DROUGHT :-/

Actually TableMtn that may be part of it, but there were berry bushes next to the running steam that also were completely devoid of any berries even though they were lush green and obviously well watered from the stream.

[Nolena]

I went in search of chokecherries today in the same vicinity as Boston Bob. Last year, I ran out of bags for picking them. This year, there's nothing. The chokecherry bushes are even losing their leaves.
I went down into the stream bed to look, but it was very dry, and there was nary a berry.
I do remember seeing chokecherries on the road to the Bighorn Mine about a month ago.
Hmmmmmmmm.

[Chesslike]

Nolena, you better stock up on your canning jars as I think it is going to be a banner year for chokecherries and currants. Here are some pictures of all the flowers on those fruit bushes that I took on my hike this morning.

[Nolena]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
I am SO ready!
Bring on the berries!! Uh HUH! Uh HUH! Uh HUH! 

-Insert Happy Dance Here-

I DO believe I know this place!

I pick berries; therefore I am! 

[artology]

When you go out berry picking this year, let me know and I'll join you. I love to do the canned jam thang. Last year I did several billion pints of cherries, apple butter and strawberry jam.

[Nolena]

Great!
The apples should be good this year, too.
I go for chokecherries, currants, elderberries, and gooseberries. I'd like to try manzanita berries this year.

[LasPulgas]

I'd like to go picking with you, also.

AND you can keep my pickings and divvy them up between you, as I have NO PLANS to jam or can anything myself.

I just like to go berry picking...   

[Nolena]

We'll get a regular berry picking squad going! It's really a lot of fun!

[Nolena]

It looks like this will be a fantastic elderberry year, and the currants look pretty good, also. Things are ripening much later than usual. It won't be full swing until the beginning of September.

[Nolena]

Some of the currants & elderberries are ripe! 

[WWMtnGal]