Plump Plants
- Saskatoon berry
Saskatoons — What Came First: the City or the Berry?
Can you think of a major city named after a fruit? Bananaville? Melontown? How about Saskatoon? That’s right—the Paris of the prairies is named for the Saskatoon berry, which comes from the plant’s Cree name, “misâskwatômina.” It’s a pretty big accomplishment for a pretty small berry. DESCRIPTION Sitting in my Saskatoon berry patch, I feel transported to the windswept plains of the prairies. The small berries are like purple jewels in a landscape where native fruit is scarce. I’m not the only animal that likes to eat Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia)—they’re attractive to smaller critters like squirrels and chipmunks, birds,...