Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/884046
city of angels CATCHING THE CALIFORNIA GOLDEN CURRANT By Kathy Vilim Your Hometown Harvest I t's Autumn, and thoughts turn to the harvest, putting the bounty of food on the table, and being thankful for all we have. Yet, I fi nd myself wondering among all this food: where are the native, wild, edible foods of California? It's time for bak- ing fruit and berry pies. Why not use native California berries? Well, look no further than the Ribes family to fi nd wild, edible berry bushes that are native to California. Ribes berries are not only edible, but downright tasty. There are many Ribes species covering the state's different types of climates and ecosystems, including Currants and Gooseberries. So, no matter where in California you garden, there should be a native species right for you. If you are planning to have more berry bushes in your Cal- ifornia garden, this is a good time to get started. Autumn is a glorious time of year for gardening: temperatures begin to cool, days are shorter, and rains can begin to soften up the soil. Can we hope for a rainy winter this year? Are you starting a wildlife garden? The birds in your garden will fi nd Ribes tasty, too. Some of the birds that enjoy Ribes berries include: California Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, and the American Robin. When you plant Ribes, you welcome the birds to your garden. GOLDEN CURRANTS, Ribes aureum gracillimum Golden currants make a tidy bush without thorns. A low-grow- ing thicket about 6-ft wide and 3- to 6-ft tall with three-lobed leaves, Ribes aureum has lots of sweet-smelling yellow tubular fl owers that are popular with Hummingbirds. Golden Currant berries start out yellow and turn red as they ripen. If you live in the higher elevations, you would choose Ribes aureum aureum, but for the rest of us, aureum gracillimum is the species of choice, adapting to a wide range of conditions. Berry-eating birds, like the California Thrasher (Toxostoma re- divivum), love the Golden currants in late spring. Beautiful, as well as functional, Golden Currant, provides a superior bird hab- itat. It is an excellent choice if you want to attract the California Thrasher to your wildlife garden. Currants can grow in Southern Oak Woodland, Chaparral and Soft Scrub ecosystems, and along the coast ranges. In the can- yons of Malibu, they can cover entire canyon bottoms with their soft yellow color. It is also a good ground cover in tough condi- tions, such as under oak trees. The California Thrasher is a welcome friend all winter long. A non-migratory bird, California gardeners commonly see the Thrasher pecking around in leaf litter for insects with its long, curved beak. In December, the Thrasher can be found enjoying Toyon's (Heteromeles arbutifolia) bright red Christmas berries in the Chaparral. Planting currants will also bring Hummingbirds into your 8 wholelifetimes.com