Mixed Fruit

Supposedly grapes are hard to grow. Well, not for Big Daddy. My Vitus californica (a.k.a., "Rogers Red") is going to town out in the backyard. That's the native California grape.

Late Summer the grapes should be ready to harvest, so don't be surprised if you see my feet turning purple.

Haven't had so much luck other indigenous fruits, however. I planted a holly leaf cherry because I wanted a fruit tree, and I thought it would be the environmentally responsible thing to do to plant something indigenous.

And I had these visions of pulling this beatiful cherry cobbler out of the oven and telling my guests, "It's not just delicious, it's a host plant for twelve species of endangered butterflies.

Well, after the tree became established, I found out that the cherries it bears are not exactly fit for human consumption. They're all skin and seed, according to my field guide. I think they're only eaten by some rare species of horned lizard or something.

Of course, I guess I could always eat the lizards.

Kurt "big daddy" True
20 june 2004