Amur Maple

Native to China, Manchuria and Japan.  A small tree often grown as a boulevard tree or garden subject.  The foliage turns a wonderful red in the fall.   Hardy to Zone 2.  These small trees are tough as nails and quite easy to start from seed.

There are many studies looking into the medicinal qualities of maple, worth taking some time to look up.  And then there is maple syrup.

Can also be used as a bonsai subject.

Paper birch, White birch

There just so happens to be a magnificent speciman of this tree on the property.  It's a fair hike to get to, worth it.  

Native people cut the inner bark into long strips, boiled them, and then added these "noodles" to stew.  

Sea Buckthorn - These are beautiful shrubs / small trees.  They are quite hardy in our zone 3 and could probably be pushed to zone 2.  

I especially like them for winter interest.  

Western Larch was planted in the Red Deer area many years ago.  It is from some of these trees that I collect the seed.  What first drew me to this tree was the red sheet like bark.  Very pretty.  

This will grow to be a large tree and it will take up considerable space, site carefully.

Norway Spruce

Native to Europe but used in as an ornamental and in forestation.  The picture taken is not at all a good representation of the beauty of this tree.  I will try to get a better one. 

What drew me to this beautiful tree was the cones.  The cones hang off the branches and are 10-16 cm long.  They fall to the ground after dispersing their seed.  

It grows faster than our native species, and forms a good windbreak.  It also has a dense conical crown and branches that droop down to the ground.  It is ideal for Christmas tree plantations.  New shoots of the Norway spruce are used in making spruce beer.  

Blue Spruce

Planted throughout Red Deer and many other Canadian towns and cities, no doubt due to its hardiness and beauty.  

This seed is from trees collected in Red Deer. 

SOLD OUT Nanking Cherry

These shrubs are easy to grow, fast growing, and easy to keep.

I did not particulary like them to eat off the shrub, but that was from the bushes in the Red Deer garden.  Our soil is obviously different here, the cherries are delicious.  I can eat as many as I pick for seed.  These make a wonderful jelly.  The only recipe I've found that works is located at The Blue Flame Kitchen.

SOLD OUT

Burnet Rose, Rosa pimpinellifolia, Rosa poteriifolia

This stunning rose grows on this property and my neighbour's, wildly.  At the neighbour's it reaches over 6' tall, here in the yard it is smaller but only due to it's location.  

What I love the most about this rose is the quarter size dark purple / black hips in the fall.  I love the smell of them, fresh and fermenting.  I think they would make excellent schnapps.  Also curious is that in spite of the size of the hips, there are very few seeds in them.  The most I have ever found per hip is 4 seeds, the average is one seed.

Red-Berried Elder

Collected from garden growm specimens.  This seed is a two year germinator requiring warm, cold periods.

Viburnum opulus - High Bush Cranberry

Clusters of white flowers in late June.  Fruits are cranberry size and bright red, often hanging on throughout the winter.  The drupe is edible, but very tart.  An excellent additional fruit to add to jams & jellies.