For three summers now I’ve relished building a profitable relationship with a wild blackberry that insists on growing up through a nandina planted on a sunny side of the house. Fearful of what it might do should it get out of hand, I have religiously cut it back at the end of each season, and thus far it has been an abundant producer with only minor hazards. However, the slightest research into actually IDing this generous gift does put one on guard, for apparently it is the much “reviled” Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), also known as Armenian blackberry, introduced to California (and adjoining states, to their great detriment and consternation) by none other than our beloved Luther Burbank. Ahem. Mr. Burbank apparently spotted an ad for the seeds in an “Indian seed catalogue” in 1885 and ordered them, planted them and proceeded to regale everyone with stories of their deliciousness and their enormous vigorous benefits. Guessing the ancestors of those who listened would like to give Mr. Burbank a piece of their mind along with a delicious piece of blackberry pie. It’s now regarded as one of the biggest invasives along the Pacific Northwest, with little chance of changing that, as anything that would do damage to them (short of digging them up, an overwhelming and thankless task) would also do damage, inevitably, to viable commercial blackberry cousins. The Good Ones.

And I have one of those, too. 🙂

My good and proper and well behaved blackberry

This guy, which I also love, came from Home Depot and the sign on it says it came from a place called Four Winds. I called Four Winds and the person I spoke with says it actually came from Oregon, one of the blackberry capitals of the world. Four Winds’ website says they sell three kinds of blackberries: Ollalie, Black Satin Blackberry and Triple Crown Blackberry and no amount of research led me to any conclusions which one I now own and care for and enjoy. So I’ll stick with calling it The Good One.

It’s very delicious. It has only minimal prickles. (You are not supposed to call the wicked sticky things thorns in blackberry land, even though apparently the blackberry is related to the rose.) And I can tell it won’t grow crazily out of control, though it does have a large new cane. However I am also noticing that while I can still lay claim to a small number of early blackberries each day, I don’t see any flowers (mid-June), so I’m guessing the fruiting season is quite limited. And meanwhile….(ta da!):

My Bad Boy, the Himalayan blackberry (and p.s., no one in California calls this Armenian)

See the nandina flowers growing among my fruity flowers? Yep. It’s a wild affair, I’ll tell ya’.

Lovely blackberry flowers

One of the canes is reaching onto the front porch. I’m glad, actually, as once a cane touches the ground it can use it to spread. Not much chance on cement. 🙂 Not stopping a friendly bee who came by to help with pollination, however.

Contrary to my Good and Proper Blackberry, my Naughty Himalayan is bursting with hundreds of flowers and each one will reliably produce a delicious blackberry. I’m thinking of the many fantastic healthy cool scrumptious smoothies I made last summer. Each morning I would go out and harvest just enough for a smoothie or two, and give thanks for the handful of blessings that renegade vine produced, that became my breakfast. Thank you. Thank you. So grateful. And here’s some of what it provided me:

Nutrients in raw blackberries
Nutrient Value per 100 grams % Daily Value
Energy 43 kcal
Fiber, total dietary 5.3 g 21%
Sugars, total 4.9 g
Calcium, Ca 29 mg 3%
Magnesium, Mg 20 mg 5%
Manganese, Mn 0.6 mg 32%
Copper, Cu 0.2 mg 8%
Potassium, K 162 mg 5%
Sodium, Na 1 mg 0%
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid 21 mg 35%
Vitamin A, IU 214 IU 4%
Vitamin K, 25%
Folic acid, 9%
Carotene, beta
Lutein + zeaxanthin

You can imagine my joy!

Love and gardening blessings,
Kathryn xoxoo

Book Notes: A review of Plant Whatever Brings You Joy will appear in July/August issue of California Country. Meanwhile, the Dutch issue of Ode Magazine arrived with the translated excerpt from my book and that was quite a thrill! I am also delighted to let folks know that both the wonderful Mendocino Art Center and much loved Mrs. Dalloway’s in Berkeley are making the book available! Thank you!

Posted on June 17th, 2011 by Kathryn
Filed under: Plants | 14 Comments »

This beauteous creature has been getting a bad wrap and I’d like to apologize to Dr. Huey and Capt. Thomas who introduced this lovely rose a long long time ago. Take a gander.

“…the dark carmine climber named after Dr. Huey…has been tested for four years and it is distinct as a large, semi-double, deep red climber of one period of bloom. It is hardy and the color illustration portrays its beauty. The name for it, “Dr. Huey,” was announced at the meeting of the American Rose Society held in the Bloomfield Gardens on Jun 4, 1919 when the rose created great enthusiasm among the experts there.”
—The American Rose Annual

How soon we forget.

I have finally taken it upon myself to spend the last two weeks researching the nature of “rootstocks” and the current practice of the grafting of roses and of Dr. Huey in particular. It was Time. I began with an early morning jaunt in my own immediate locale and found plenty of evidence that Dr. Huey is alive and well in Mendocino County, home to many very old established gardens. Testimony began right at home. No need to convince me of the beauty of this lovely old fashioned rose.

Further afield…

Dr. Huey living happily among yellow blossoms

A climbing Dr. Huey lending its charm to a bare crepe myrtle

Dr. Huey with a happy pink and white companion

More Dr. Huey beauty

Dr. Huey bringing loveliness and color to a casual garden

Now, yes, yes, I know. Dr. Huey’s strength was recognized as a perfect rose to graft beautiful tea roses, fancy fare onto, borrowing from its qualities. Fine. I get it. I have a plum tree in my yard I would love to graft a “bigger, better” plum onto. However, I do think it’s sad that Dr. Huey, once honored by the American Rose Society, has fallen into disrepute as a “common rose” or, worse, a “weed rose.” It’s not.

I also fully understand that due to the vibrancy and resilience of Dr. Huey that he can actually “overtake” the rose someone probably “paid good money for” and that would leave the gardener less than happy. Even I, doing this research, had to come to the realization that one of my favored roses in my very own garden might possibly be endangered by Dr. Huey suckers (shock) and took out two or three of those this morning with no regret. However, I am imploring us to show a little respect for the Dr. Huey that has made so many other roses possible, and to perhaps considering there might be a place for its beauty just as it is in our gardens. There is in mine.

Sweet bouquet garnered from the fallen “suckers”

The rose is, according to fossil evidence, 35 million years old. Garden cultivation of roses began over 5,000 years ago, most likely in China. There is a history that I believe ought be respected, cherished, loved and to be grateful for. Dr. Huey most certainly falls into a very important part of that history. Be kind.

For the record, I did reach out to the David Austin folks in Texas. I was told I should email their technician, Michael, who was out of the country, but, bless his heart, he did get back to me straightaway. Here was his input:

Dear Kathryn,

Thank you for your email…Since I have never grown roses on Dr. Huey personally (we use Laxa over here in the UK) I am not sure of the answer but looking around gardens in the States I don’t think you see too many Dr. Huey so I think not a huge proportion will end up as it. The change of it happening [reverting] is, I am sure related to, as you say, the diligence of the gardener but it would also be related to the strength of the rose and one that suffers more from disease [or frigid winters] is more likely to have the Dr. Huey grow through than a strong growing, healthy variety.”

I must invite Michael to California for his own personal tour of Dr. Huey roses in May. It would not take long. 🙂

Love and rosey blessings,
Kathryn xoxo

Note: I want to extend my thanks to my cousin Julie for her sharing her rose knowledge with me. So helpful.

Book News: An excerpt from Plant Whatever Brings You Joy has now been published in the June issue of the Dutch version of Ode Magazine. I cannot wait to see one of my stories translated into Dutch, particularly as that particular story took place in Amsterdam!

Southern California readers, please watch for an excerpt from Plant Whatever Brings You Joy in the June issue of Whole Person Calendar, on stands May 27th!

…I also hear tell that my book is being featured in the window at Santa Cruz Bookstore, which was heartwarming to learn. Thank you!

Posted on May 22nd, 2011 by Kathryn
Filed under: Plants | 16 Comments »