Going Wild for Strawberries
—Courtney Turner, Environmental Educator
Are you, like me, tired of the grocery store's jumbo-sized, flavorless strawberries? These behemoth berries are actually being bred for their size and in spite of their poor flavor, as commercial growers are most interested in faster harvest speeds.
Well, the answer to our prayers for a more flavorful strawberry might just be found growing beneath our feet. One of the most common "weeds" that plagues homeowners and falls victim to the lawnmower's blade is also one that produces sweet and delicious fruits--the wild strawberry.
Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is a common creeping plant that will grow just about anywhere there is sun, from forests and fields to roadsides and streamsides--and is probably in your lawn right now!
Wild strawberry looks almost the same as your garden variety, with leaves split into three toothed leaflets, however, its fruit is much smaller, with a stronger, sweeter flavor. If you are interested in trying your hand at foraging, then you can rest easy--there are no poisonous plants that resemble strawberries.
If you are lucky enough to find a patch of wild strawberries (and have enough willpower not to gobble them up on the spot), try adding these tasty berries to cereal, mixed into pancake batter, fruit salad, or to top an ice cream sundae. But be mindful not to pick too many, for we are not the only ones who enjoy these lovely berries. Wild strawberries are a valuable food source for a variety of wildlife, including wild turkeys, red-bellied woodpeckers, opossums, chipmunks, and Eastern box turtles.
TONIGHT: The Full Strawberry Moon
Long ago, American Indians named each of the moons they saw throughout the year according to changes in weather and plant and animal life. June's full moon was named the Strawberry Moon, signifying the time of the strawberry harvest.
So this evening, since it only comes around once a year, take a moment to look up at the night sky and appreciate the Full Strawberry Moon.
