mamisgarden:

milos-garden:

mamisgarden:

humulus:

mamisgarden:

omgplants:

milos-garden:

So there’s this thing where waxwings and other birds gorge themselves on Mountain Ash berries and then get drunk from it.

Not really sure about the science behind it, perhaps the berries start to ferment after the first bit of frost.

My mom has one in her yard! The Waxwings go nuts for them. I think they ferment in their stomachs? Maybe you are right though,  that they are already starting to ferment. *As I am not sure how fast a bird actually digests something so it might not even stay in their system long enough to ferment.*

im not sure if these really do ferment so quick & easy, they don´t contain to much sugar, and also have a high concentration sorbic acid

They ferment on the tree after frost, yes.  I can smell a “dogberry” tree in the winter a mile away.  Not sure of the science either, but it’s probably the malic acid.

Waxwings store fruit in their gullet, where it ferments further. (probably mixing with other fruit sugars in there as well.)  

some rowan recipes and more:
http://wildandslow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/WILD_ROWANBERRY_FINAL3.pdf

Science ! And recipes ! 

I didn’t know anyone would actually eat these.

Then again I have read that its possible to graft PEARS, APPLES, and QUINCE on to a mountain ash since they’re all closely related.

Another species with edible berries I want to try is Aronia melanocarpa which produces something called Chokeberries. Apparently they make terrific jam. They’re also compatible for mt. ash grafting too.

hmm, great info about the grafting, i know where o get a quince cutting!
Aronias grow a lot around this neighborhood, but haven´t tried to jam them yet.  I have some wich i dried a year ago, to check how they tasted in that state. they are a bit tart, but so are rowanberries.
Rowanberries can also be dried and a woman i knew said she ate one a day and hadn´t got a flu since she started this practice.

A few days ago i found a Cornus mas with lots of berries. The taste was nice but i found them kind of ….meatless.

jeezus this was such a good reblog thread and still is