Mystery Dogwood. A shrub I collected locally, it's either Gray Dogwood or Roughleaf Dogwood (or a natural hybrid). It's been hard to positively identify this shrub!
It's filling a gap in the row of non-native lilacs.
This shrub grows very easily and occasionally self-seeds. It is not spectacular but it is quietly beautiful. Without the flower, the leaves might immediately suggest Kerria japonica, with its deep veins and puckered ridges.
This naturally segues into a discussion about the #UK phenomenon that is Hedge #Porn.
"...#England's #Hedgerows would stretch almost ten times around the #Earth if lined up end to end...
"...#Ecologists hope the data will lead to better protections for the much-loved lines of #Trees and #Shrubs that provide food and shelter for #Wildlife, and store large amounts of #Carbon..."
My first foray into shrub-making. When I used to drink alcohol I really liked the layers of flavors that good cocktails had. A good shrub makes me happy now. (I very much dislike soda)
Recipe adapted from the Michael Dietsch book “Shrubs”, using the winter nellis pears I get here in California and subbing out a part of the apple cider vinegar for balsamic vinegar, for the extra punch I enjoy. More instructions in alt text.
Some sloe berries (pretty sure this Prunus spinosa aka blackthorn aka sloe) for those Sloe Gin Fizz aficionados out there. It's shortly after noon somewhere🤷♂️ 😉.
(10/14/23, 12:23 pm)