Greetings from Earthen, 

 

The greenery is deepening and it’s warming up day by day in Central Oregon. It’s a time of transitions, and for many native plants and pollinators, it’s showtime.

 

Longer twilight hours mean more chances to catch a glimpse of early evening bats, returning swifts, or a rare aurora in our northern skies. Reminder that minimizing harsh outdoor lights helps preserve both your view and your neighbors’.

With Mother’s Day approaching, you might think about offering something like a service project or a native plant that keeps on giving. Local shops will have native shrubs and pollinator-friendly perennials! 

 

May Botanical Spotlight: Serviceberry | Amelanchier alnifolia

The Western Serviceberry is one of our favorite native shrubs. It's adaptable, beautiful, and a boon for pollinators and wildlife. Also called Saskatoon or Pacific Serviceberry, this deciduous shrub is native throughout much of the Pacific Northwest and thrives in our variable conditions.

It bursts into clusters of delicate white blossoms in early spring, often before its leaves have fully emerged. These blooms attract a variety of native bees, butterflies, and early pollinators. Later in summer, they mature into small, deep purple berries—sweet and edible, tasting a bit like a cross between blueberry and apple. They’re loved by birds and people alike (if you can beat the robins to them).

 

Serviceberry can reach 6–15 feet in height depending on your conditions. It prefers full sun to part shade and tolerates a range of soils, as long as they’re well-draining. Once established, it’s drought-tolerant, making it a great choice for a water-wise landscape.

Serviceberries have been an important food for Indigenous people here for a long time, and once you try them, you’ll know why. They taste kind of like blueberries but with this nice hint of almond or cherry. Great fresh or in jam, pie, or muffins...

 

We'll leave you with a small reminder: if you’re using herbicides or fertilizers this season, please consider choosing organic or pollinator-safe options. What we put into the ground affects more than we see.

 

Stay grounded,

Mike