I wanted to let my readers know about this wonderful online resource, Nature Skills. I found it through the Wilderness Awareness School website. One of my life goals is to attend a program like this, they also offer a home-study program, but until then I’ve been taking advantage of the free e-courses offerded through Nature Skills. The “Tourist Test” alone will engage me for a long time (so many questions I never would have thought to ask!). I just signed up for the Wild Plant Identification e-course. Between this and the informal yoga teacher training I am taking with my yoga teacher friend I shall be pretty busy.
Common Snowberry (symphoricarpos albus)
My latest wild plant obsession is the Common Snowberry, a native deciduous shrub belonging to the honeysuckle family. The berries are an important food source for many birds, including quail, grouse, pheasant, and cedar waxwings, especially in the winter as the fruit is produced in the fall and winter–although I’m sure the berries get eaten up fairly quickly). And now I’m off to the garden centre to buy one! (50% off plants today so we’ll see if they have any–it’s listed on their website). I may also get Winterberry ‘Winter Red’ but I’d have to get a male and female and I don’t have a lot of money right now, so we’ll see!
Common Snowberry
Friday, October 21st, 2011, 4:28 pm | 
Natural Contemplation, Nature Skills, Wild Plants, Wildflowers, Wildlife | 
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October 21, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Ah…a very apt name. We certainly saw lots when we were a lot hiking at Cape Blomidon a few weeks ago.
Let me know how you make out finding them at a nursery as I wouldn’t mind having some myself to plant along the edge of the woods.
The Mountain Ash trees at the Cape were loaded with berries and I heard that lots of berries still on the trees this time of year means we are going to have LOTS of snow this winter.
Marisa @ Getting Back To Basics recently posted..Homemade Goodness
October 21, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Hi mom, they had common snowberry in 2g and 3g pots. The 2g are 19.99 reg. price, and 50% for members. Sale ends on Sunday! I ended up getting Winterberry too, 3 to be exact!
October 21, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Thank you. This looks exciting!
Laurel recently posted..Keeping The Spirit of The Wild Alive in Herbalism
October 24, 2011 at 6:40 pm
I remember seeing these berries when I live in Ontario. As a child, I think we picked them and chucked them at each other !
Thanks for dropping by my site.
Sybil in Eastern Passage, NS
Sybil recently posted..Darrell’s visit – Part Deux
October 24, 2011 at 10:29 pm
hummm, snowberries, snow balls, I guess that would work:)
October 25, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Hi Grace,
I came across that online nature school last year and even took the tourist test. You can learn a lot from books and online, but there is no substitute for personal observation over time. Don’t forget to get outside on a daily basis.
Those snow berries are lovely. I’ve never seen them before.
Amy-Lynn recently posted..Idioms Inspired by Nature
October 25, 2011 at 4:02 pm
I agree, that’s how I learn best anyway. You can point out a flower in the garden and tell me the name numerous times and I still won’t remember, but if I found it while out on one of my walks and become curious and later learn the name, I will not forget! The hubby and I have an almost daily ritual where we walk around the perimeter of our property (usually not together) when we need a work break from the computer.
October 25, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Wiki and some other websites said the berries of this plant are fine for grouse, etc., but poisonous to humans. I looked at the sites you put up all intersting. They’re saying cougar may have been seen in Vermont. Easter Cougar are confirmed here. MNR here confirmed that about 400 are living north up the Ottawa Valley to here in a sort of corridor. Exciting isn’t it. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Boom & Gary recently posted..A Hike In The East Track Bog of The Vermilon River. A Post To WBW.
October 26, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Oh yes snowberries are not for humans–which is too bad because they’re so soft and pretty. I hadn’t heard about the Eastern Cougar in Ottawa Valley. I know there’s debate as to whether they’re here in Nova Scotia. Some people down in Yarmounth area (I think it was) are saying there have been signs and a few sightings.