Blue Elderberry tree. Some tribes used the wood for making bows, pipes, fire drills as well as a few musical instruments. The plant was used as a fever deterrent and a blood purifier. (I hear it makes some very fine wine as well. □)

​We had a fascinating and very educational FORB event today at Sutter’s Landing Regional Park this morning.  Our friend, Brian Collett, took about a dozen or so guests on an adventure near the banks of the American River showing us native and non native trees, shrubs and other plants that most of us do not pay much attention to when we walk down to the river.  I can assure you after this event, everyone that attended will be paying attention to what we learned about today and sharing it with their friends and families.  

Brian mentioned a very interesting fact before we began our walk.  He said even though it is still the Summer season, the trees and plants are now at the beginning stages of the Fall season.  This is evidenced by noticing some of the leaves turning and falling.  The biggest growth and development began much earlier in the Summer.  

Thank you so much Brian for taking the time to put this event together.  Your knowledge of all the trees, shrubs, vines etc is endless and so very valuable.

We all appreciated Brian not only describing the different plants, shrubs and trees to us, but he also connected them to how these items were used, cultivated and treasured by our Native American tribes.  Here are some examples:

Manzanita Shrub produces edible fruit/berries consumed by coastal and foothill Native groups. The wood is used for tools and fire wood which produces low smoke and high temperature fires

Curly Dock. This plant starts out as a green leafy growth which is used as a vegetable and medicinally for skin and internal ailments. It is also high in Vitamin C content. Its flowers and seeds are usually very small, growing in yellowish green to green to purplish plume-like clusters at the top of the plant.

Fennel/Anise is an introduced species accompanying the introduction of cattle in California. The entire plant and roots can be eaten without any ill effects.

Wild Rose, a deciduous shrub, produces edible fruit that can be harvested in the fall when sugar content is highest. The fruit was also used as adornment such as necklaces and earrings. The rose petals were dried, ground to a powder and used for skin rashes on babies.

Chicory is an herb used as a savory green to enhance salads. The roots can be baked or roasted and the plant can be substituted for oats as horse feed. It is also a delicious substitute for coffee.

Wild Grape can be seen all over the Parkway this time of year climbing up on trees. The berries were harvested for food. Some Native tribes used the vine as twine and as a support for foot drums. Other tribes used the vine stems for basketry.

Our walk ended with a stop at the Poison Oak shrub. (we made sure to keep our distance) Some Native tribes used it to remove warts and skin growths. Others used it as an antidote for rattlesnake bites and in charcoal form for tattoos.

This was one of the best walks we had at SLP.  Brian is an absolute wealth of knowledge and he thoroughly prepared for this well in advance.