North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[mark wessel <growyourown@earthlink.net>]

on 7/22/03 10:18 PM, Richard J. Ossolinski at osso@acadia.net wrote:
Richard,
   I thought it really isnt the best Idea to be discussing my trip to Maine
on this list; however, I think I can bring it around to cover a few of the
minor fruits.
   This years meeting was held in Machias. For those not familiar with Maine
that is nearly as far up the coast as you can go.(down east). One of the
field trips was to a Nature conservency holding on Great Waas Island. I went
with a group of the hardier botanist on an 8 mile hike around the tip of the
Island. To get to the coast the trail cuts through a large section of
heath. Lots of ericacios plants.  It also goes through a very large raised
bog. One edible species in that occurs in the bog is Baked apple berry,
Rubus chamaemorus. In fact it is called Baked Apple Bog. The berries were
not yet ripe. I have in the past tried this berry on many occassions. It
does have an apple pie taste to it  at times. I would hate to be given the
task of having to pick a quart of these. Pomona had an article a year or so
back about this fruit and how they are trying to select good varieties for
commercail production. Somewhere in the Scandinavian countries I think. My
first thought when I read that article was that they are going to have to do
a heck of a lot of selecting. Maybe it fruits better overthere but whenever
I have seen this plant in fruit the berries are few and far between. Small
and not often well filled out.
   The coast of Maine as you know is just awesome. Rocky with many little
gems growing in peat fill crevices. Seals and Eiders swimming around. The
high light was out at the tip where these rocky peat covered ledges drop off
into the ocean. Cranberry was one of the main ground covers. It was in full
bloom. Cute little pink blossoms. Also in that area the Lingonberries were
already in fruit. I have been there in the fall and it is a wonderful
sensation to pop a fresh cranberry into your mouth on one of those long
hikes. One other common plant which also formed a ground cover in these same
habitats was Empetrum nigrum,Black Crowberry. Tiny black fruits. Didnt taste
like much. You would burn more calories picking it than you would get back
in return.

 Mark  SW ohio


> Mark,
> I am right across Frenchman Bay from MDI and annually do grafting for 
> clients
> there.
> Perhaps you could have "susan" contact me off list.  Where in ME was your
> meeting?
> (Hope you enjoyed our awesome weather!)
> Richard