Josiah Clark - Naturalist

Red Elderberry: One plant, many uses to many kinds of wildlife. Stacking of function is a term often used to describe human created systems but is an excellent way to articulate the most important plants within a natural ecosystem. “Trickle down ecology” is where “producers” at the base of the ecosystem provide energy that trickles down through a wide range of organisms in the food web.

The elderberry Crusades chapter 1: A public service announcement a year for this exceptional plant is simply not enough. I have run out of superlatives to adequately capture the importance of this plant (and elderberry species cumulatively across their range ) to breeding birds in North America. If there were one single act any gardener in North America could do to aid breeding songbirds, it would likely be to encourage the presence of robust and productive elderberry trees. Please tell your gardening and Bird loving friends to spread the word! Imagine the difference we could all make together.