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To Sharon (author of "Wild Strawberries and Minnehaha): Enjoyed your article very much (this is the 2nd one written by you that caught my eye!) ... but I was mystified by the comment that garden varieties of strawberries do not form runners, but rather remain in clumps! Well my garden varieties certainly do ... (form runners) ... one of the varieties that form prolific runners is ... (I was just going out to check the variety, but as I was ready to go out the front door to check the plant marker, a very large and mild mannered raccoon was standing on the front porch, staring at me like a pet cat would, wondering what I was about to do, so I politely closed the door and let her (or him) go about her (or his) business...); that's beside the point ... your articles are very well written and I very much enjoy reading them. I'm sure that you are very successful in your efforts, and please continue writing ... I look forward to your next. Getting back to the strawberries ... I have spent much time on the southern Oregon coast in the general vicinity of Gold Beach, Oregon, where I lived a totally wild existence for more than two years, studying and consuming as many of the local wild plant foods as possible. I had taken reference material with me (books, etc.) so that I could properly identify as many as I could according to my reference materials (the largest one was "Flora of the Pacific Northwest" by Cronklin and Hitchcock [ ? ... not totally sure if I quoted that correctly] ... but it didn't take much effort identifying the strawberries when they got ripe. They occupied areas both on the sandstone cliffs in nearly total shade, dripping wet from overhead runlets of water running seaward, to areas near the surf in the dunes intermixed with logs. They (the strawberry "gems") were a welcome treat while exploring the vast and often totally unoccupied coastline that had become my own "Garden of Eden" for a while. Keep writing.
I live in the city with a city garden and now have so many wild strawberry runners in my yard, I can hardly keep up with them (pulling them that is). Now, can you eat these? I tried but they have no taste... for the few fruits I guess; pick one, eat one; not enough to fill a bowl at one time and perhaps add sugar.
Nrowlett, so nice to hear from you, wow...you did exactly what I would like to do again, roam around with reference book in hand! Now about your question, that was info I pulled from research I always do when I write about a plant. I don't grow cultivated strawberries myself, so I was a bit startled as well. However it was stated as such in more than one reference as the biggest difference aside from the size and taste of the berries. So I figured if I were going to err, it should be on the side of the reference material. I suspect it might be the case in the most popular types of cultivated strawberries, but I really don't know. At any rate, it is great to read of your adventures. And your raccoon story left me laughing. Occasionally a family of raccoons finds its way to the apple tree next door, and don't ever seem to mind if I am outside nearby.
It sounds to me like you should be writing of your 'Garden of Eden' too. That I would also enjoy.
Maiglocke, yes, I have always tasted wild strawberries, especially when they first appear in my yard as they do every May. They are not nearly as tasty as those that are cultivated, but when I was little, they were just about the only strawberries I ever had. My taste for them developed at that time, I think, and to me they are a sure sign of summer.
It's great to hear from both of you, I love hearing about areas I am not so familiar with, like the NW coast, even though I have visited there several times. Ohio is not so far away and I have been there many times to visit relatives or friends, so hearing from you is fun too. Thank you both for writing, glad you like the articles.
Sharran: allow me to state that wild strawberries may be in danger in Indiana, but not in my yard! there is more wild strawberries than Grass!!! LOL. when I cut the grass they seem to grow Berserker. I have collected them, and yes, they do need a little sugar to taste good. I don't use fertiliser on the lawn or weed killer so they have never given me any stomach problems.:) thanks for a great story.
Godfrey
Godfrey, I am so glad to hear I don't have to worry about losing wild straberries in Indy! Thanks for letting me know about their Berserker status! (Love that word.)
Thanks for the smile, and for writing.
Great to hear from you.
