Early Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) and Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Bloom

Observation: Early blooming salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis - Highbush) and blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum - Highbush) blossoms.

LEO Comment: With in about a week we've had the earliest (late Feb.) sighting of salmonberries blossoming in Ouzinkie, AK on Spruce Island, about 10 miles north of Kodiak. Last year about month (early April.) later an observation was posted from Sitka, AK, located on Baranof Island in southeast Alaska about early berry blossoms. Other posts about "salmonberries" may be referring to the low bush variety Rubus chamaemorus, also know as cloud berries.

Resource:

• LEO Network is hosting in collaboration with USGS an annual survey about berry harvest in Alaska. If you are a berry harvester you are welcome to participate in our LEO Berry Assessment. See also the published report, How are your berries? Perspectives of Alaska’s environmental managers on trends in wild berry abundance. (J. Hupp et al.)

Video: View this short-video produced in the Metlakatla Indian Community of Alaska titled, Berry Fruit Leather:: METLAKATLA :: Store Outside Your Door. In this short 6:22 minute video, Metlakatla's Naomi Leask teaches us how to make fruit leather out of local berries! This Southeast Alaska community has a berry bounty each year. You can try this recipe with local berries from your area. Berries are rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants (great for heart and brain health). The video was published on September 8, 2015 by The Store Outside Your Door project, an ANTHC Wellness and Prevention initiative to promote the knowledge and use of traditional foods and traditional ways.

LEO Network has shared this observation with Jerry Hupp from USGS and LoriAnn Bartnett with the USA Phenology Network.