Northern Red Currant

     While I was wondering along the Mendenhall Peninsula shore, I came across these delicate, little flowers blooming. It’s always exciting when I come across a new plant that I haven’t seen before. After searching through my wild plant field guides, I discovered they are Northern Red Currant blossoms (Ribes triste). Unlike the Bristly Black Currant they have a smooth stem.
     According to the book Discovering Wild Plants: Alaska, Western Canada, The Northwest by Janice J. Schofield, they are high in vitamin C and copper. They can be found in open areas along moist woods, near stream banks, and the seashore. They range from northern Alaska and the Yukon to Oregon.
     I’ll have to return when they are ripe so I can photograph the berries, and I can pick a few to try in a pie. I wonder if they would be good with blueberries. Let me know if you have any suggestions for berry combinations.

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