“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names.” – Chinese proverb
Well What Are They?
I haven’t a clue as to what these berries are. Do you? — Photo by Pat Bean
I was sitting at my computer when Pepper jumped up from her cozy spot on my bare feet and started barking frantically.
Somebody, perhaps the tenth person this day, was approaching my RV. I glanced outside to see who it was, then hushed Pepper and told her it was OK.
I never scold her for barking because I like having her as my alarm system, even if her barks are sounded frequently, which they are. People, noting the campground host sign in front of my Lake Walcott RV site, stop by often.
But I do know that this is a milkweed. I learned its name last year in my searches to identify Lake Walcott plants. It’s a special favorite of butterflies. — Photo by Pat Bean.
I’m pretty good at answering most questions about the park, including its history and what facilities and activities are available. This, after all, is my third year as a volunteer here.
Sometimes the campers ask me to identify a bird they just saw. This is my favorite question because I can almost always answer it. With the exception of the sharp-tailed grouse, every bird species found here at the park is on my life birding list.
This guy, however, had a plant question.
“Are these huckleberries?” He was holding up a twig with berries from a bush that I had spotted earlier in the day – and photographed because I wanted to know what kind of berries they were myself.
Sadly I hadn’t been successful in identifying them, and had to tell him I didn’t know. I do so hate disappointing campers. Perhaps one of my readers is as avid a plant enthusiast as I am about birds and can tell me. See picture above.
Bean’s Pat: Serenity Spell http://tinyurl.com/87qcugr A young great blue heron’s meal. Great photos. Blog pick of the day by this wondering wanderer.
Pat Bean's blog 
Thanks so much — and ditto for the pat! ♥ I’ve always loved your leading quote… I try so hard to research things I don’t know. Wish I could help with your berries, they’re a bit out of our ecosystem!
Thanks and you’re welcome. I’m thankful the web has made finding answers easier, even if there are still questions unanswered.
Pat the leaves don’t match any I know of for huckleberries, but they could be a regional berry I’m not aware of.
They seem to have everyone stumped. Thanks for commenting
Hi Pat,
My lack of knowledge will not stop me from attempting to answer your question. It’s been my understanding that the term “huckleberry” fits several different types of berries mixed together. So you wouldn’t find a huckleberry bush, but you could find a huckleberry pie.
I love your sense of humor Bob. Ever eaten bumbleberry pie. I have.
I’ve been through my Rocky Mountain Wild Berries book and can’t fix it. The rounded leaf shape (not jagged) is throwing me.
Me, too. Thanks for looking.
I keep looking. While trying to figure out a berry here I came across that leaf shape in a currant or gooseberry.
I think you’re right. I went looking for gooseberry photos, and it looks exactly like my bush here. I love it when I can put the right name to something. I’ll mention this in today’s blog, when I get around to writing it.