The Nature Pages at OUTRIDER

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      Wild Berries of the West 
      by Betty B. Derig and Margaret Fuller
      Mountain Press Publishing, 2001
           This colorful field guide identifies over 150 berries and other fruits growing wild in the western U.S.  Arranged alphabetically by their common family name, from Barberries to Yews, the plants are profiled with details on their historical use, edibility, and backyard propogation.
           "Our book is a field guide for hikers and foragers," explain the authors, Betty B. Derig and Margaret Fuller. "It identifies the most common berries of the West. In general, this includes those that grow in the moist Pacific climate, the Cascade Range, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, the Sierra Nevada, the California coast ranges, and the deserts of the Southwest."

           Does this guide give specific locations for wild grapes or blackberries? No. The general range and habitat information provided will leave you with thousands of square miles to search. But once a patch of berries in located, the color photos and descriptions will help identify the plant and the back-of-the-book recipe section will provide inspiration for making good use of its fruit.
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