Wild Elderberry Patch: Thought I hit a gold mine

@bcabrobin @Acequiamadre apparently you can grow elderberries from cuttings--I have planned to do it, but never did, but if you could get some cuttings you could put them onto your own property. We bought another 10 plants this year instead of restarting from the old ones that are getting crowded out by our white walnuts.

Stories like these are everywhere, unfortunately. I currently live in CT and stumbled across wild chokecherries and gave a shout of joy! Got a bushel and a half and made jelly for home and friends and family. Went to check on them last weekend and they were gone. Cut down by county workers. I did actually shed a tear or two...Wild harvesting is getting harder and harder.

That is really sad. I do agree that you should take cuttings and plant them out as well as give them to friends and family. That way you are spreading the joy!

On an old train right-of-way, turned into a bicycle path, there were wild raspberries and blackberries on and off for miles. Several years ago they mowed them all down. On the same path there used to be Mulberry trees with branches hanging down low enough that you could reach up and pick them right off the branches. Several years ago, they either trimmed these trees, or removed them completely, so you can't even get at them with a stick. The local park district has done the same with all the berries in the local parks.

I don't think this is a mistake, but a deliberate attempt to deter foraging.

This is the same brain trust that deliberately removed all the milkweed, along with many other local plants, from local parks and pathways. They are now trying to "manage" planting of wild habitat, but doing a terrible and awkward job at it. Hopefully, nature will take over and restore the balance as it once was.

Oh, that's too bad!

Yes, @stephanie447 that is a good point. I don't know what to do, but just being aware that something should be done is a good start--you've got to define the problem before you can solve it. In our area there are apple trees just dropping their apples all over, and wild asparagus, raspberries, grapes, etc.

I had to plant my own since where I am is mostly fields of corn, soy and wheat. I created my own native plant "forest" on my one acre over the last twenty years, so I don't have to wander far to forage. In one corner is a forest glade with pines, willows, oak, hawthorn, peach, apple and maple trees, another is for sun loving herbs and edible flowers, another is my vegetables, and last is for gathering with friends and family. I have had so many surprise trees/plants/herbs/weeds just show up so it is pretty diverse now and I don't need a lot since it is just for me and my family. I was ordering some of the "exotics" just because they sounded good, but I have learned so much from different herbalists who say to focus on what is growing right outside your door because it is probably all you need. I never planted echinacea but I was cleaning an area under some dense pines and low and behold I have a patch (about 30 plants) just happy as can be growing there. I will wait a year or so to see how they spread before I harvest any. I love how nature works! I just wish our land managers could see the benefits of leaving some things be.