The fruits of Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Northland’
It’s blueberry season locally, and the bushes in the Food Garden are laden with these blue gems. Though tempting to a hungry photographer, these organically-grown berries will be harvested by garden volunteers for those in need.
This particular variety of blueberry, ‘Northland’, is the result of hybridizing work by Stanley Johnston and J. E. Moulton in the mid-20th century. It was introduced (i.e., made available to the public and industry) in 1967. The cultivar name also suggests one of its qualities: suitability for cold climates (source: accession record for Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Northland’ from the USDA’s Germplasm Resources Information Network). One quality that the GRIN database fails to mention is ornamental value–see this photograph of its autumn foliage.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t supply you with a link to blueberry recipes for this important local crop. I’m eyeing this recipe for blueberry salmon salad, myself.
One thing that I’ve long neglected to point out regarding Botany Photo of the Day is that it is only possible because of the dedicated and amazing work of the garden’s horticulturists and labourers. It all starts with the folks who brave the elements to care for these plants. If you encounter them while visiting UBC Botanical Garden (or encounter similar people at other gardens that you enjoy for that matter!), be sure to pass along a word of thanks.
I must say save for rasberries, blackberries, and wildberries, blueberries are probably my favorite fruit. And congradulations on your funding.
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the Botany Photo of the Day. I graduated from college about a year ago and took quite a few plant taxonomy/ botany classes (I majored in wildlife biology), I’ts great to refresh my memory of family names along with learning different species names and finding similarities with the ones I already know. Thanks again!
They look good enough to eat!
Bree: blueberries are in my top five favourite fruit as well (along with raspberries that you mentioned).
Kate: you’re very welcome.
Colleen: They were good enough to eat, but I resisted.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM…..
Oooo, yummy!
I call blueberries the friendly fruit, no thorns, pits, peels and you don’t have to reach up too high or bend down to low (at least with the taller varieties) to get to them. Aaaahhh, perfection. Love the pic! Lovely balance of colors.
Blueberries are the most important part of the ideal breakfast for diabetics hypercholesterolemics hypertensives obese ie most of the population of North America.
The recipe is steel cut OATS walnuts flax seed BLUEBERRIES of course wild not the garden commercial variety and lately I’ve added cinnamon and latterly poppyseeds. The last reverse osetopenia and osteoporosis.
Of course milk and sugar are utterly verboten as they are converted to cholesterol or glucose during intermediary metabolism.
Blueberries really improve the taste and chewability of this gruel.
Another way of using blueberries is as a topping on a mixed of course fresh not canned fruit salad. This is a miracle as the piney evergreen aroma and taste of the blueberries is liberated in a mixed fruit salad.
Of course blueberries should not be topped with sugar for obvious reasons.
Unfortunately I am unable to find the chemical components of blueberries to see what part is responsible for the purported beneficial effects.
Blueberries are fabulous wild food available for everyone. Could rough grouse bears or native peoples be wrong?