In Case They Ask...

Do you ever get this question from homeowners?

From the NYTimes Garden Q&A Today: Juniper Berries? Be Picky

"Q. The juniper tree beside my new house in Columbia County, N.Y., is loaded with blue berries. When is the best time to harvest them?

A. Possibly never. Of the roughly 40 species of juniper, a small number are poisonous and a majority have bitter fruits. Only a few yield edible berries (actually modified cones) and only one is routinely used for flavoring.

The flavoring juniper, best known for its contribution to gin, is common juniper, Juniperus communis. It occurs naturally in Asia, Europe and North America, and it is the parent of dozens of popular ornamental varieties..."

Also see our article about plants we grow that actually are edible 'Landscaping Not Just For the Birds'