Berry Good Time of Year

It was a berry good time for John Natelli to explore Nunn Canyon and the Calabasas Creek Open Space Preserve, in the Sonoma Valley, this past Wednesday. Not only did he find bigleaf maple at peak along the trail, but bunches of Snowberry and California Holly (Toyon) berries to brighten his walk.

Late November is when several attractive berries are at their best. Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) is also called Christmas berry and California holly for the season in which it bears fruit. No doubt Toyon decorated many a pioneer’s or prospector’s holiday tables, as probably did Snowberries (Symphoricarpos albus).

Toyon berries are eaten by many species of birds and some mammals. When cooked, their bitter taste is removed, though they were often eaten both cooked and raw by native people.

Native Californians had many uses for Snowberry as a medicinal treatment, though the saponins in them can be extremely toxic if consumed in excess the Encyclopedia of Food and Health advises.

Elsewhere on his walk, Natelli found vineyards at peak with yellow, gold, cherry and carmine vines near Loxton Cellars.