Saturday, July 16, 2016

Red Car Property: Native Blue Elderberries Following Now Familiar Pattern

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, July 9, 2016.  A large native Blue Elderberry on the Corralitas Drive side of the Red Car Property, did not catch fire in the July 19, 2016 Silver Lake Fire, but has since turned brown and is quickly dropping its leaves.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)
Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 20, 2016.  The morning after the fast moving fire, the Blue Elderberry was still green except around the lower branches. Since the 2 to 3 foot tall dry grass burned all around the tree, I was surprised to see any green left on the tree.  There were even berries still on the tree.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, June 14, 2016.  This tree conserves its water so well in drought conditions, they appeared to be dying off  throughout the neighborhood last summer.  Then we got 3" of rain in one day in July September 2015.  These hardy natives recover from major wildland fires, so we should see them return to the south end of the Red Car Property too. 

Read More: 
Cal Flora
US Forest Service

Disclaimer: The Corralitas Red Car Property Blog prefers to quote reliable sources, such as CalFlora and California Poison Control on the issue of toxicity.  We often get email suggesting some plants are edible. If you are eating your way through the Red Car Property, we DO NOT recommend you eat any plant you find in the Red Car Property neighborhood without first doing your own research.