The fresh growth of the new spring leaves is always a joy to see, especially in contrast to the dark bark of the manzanita (little apple). Some Native Americans still gather the berries for food. The shrub’s leaves and berries are also used in teas/ or as tinctures to treat poison oak rash.
I discovered this tasty tidbit much to my delight in the fall of 2022 on a drive up the coast to see family. It is a tender “baby” version of broccoli if you will. Several weeks ago I found some small starter plants at a local nursery who decided to come home with me and take up residence in the clay pot you see pictured below. I’m looking forward to a small harvest of broccolini in perhaps middle to late February.
Happy New Year.
Matthias Leue
I think the title says it all.
A splash of red in a thicket of green.
Just a Hint of Green
The cycles of drought and rain trade places in California. One can read about this in some of the wonderful books by John Steinbeck, a native Californian. I celebrate my 40th year as an immigrant to California this year. After an extremely dry fall and winter, we finally received the first rain a few weeks ago. It prompted me to venture out after the storm had passed. Amazingly, just one heavy rain storm woke up the ground. I caught the view of this lovely hill, sprouting just a hint of green.
Matthias Leue Photography 