Common Snowberry (symphoricarpos albus), is one of the more delightful yet under-appreciated native plants of the Pacific Northwest. As the leaves drop off this deciduous perennial shrub in the late fall, the snow-white berries are revealed, bobbing near the tips of the wispy stems. But this berry is for show only, do not eat! There is likely a reason it’s has been called ‘corpse berry’. I’ve used fresh twigs in ribbed basketry before. For small items it works great for making hoops and ribs. A hedge of snowberry seems always to be a favorite forging and resting spot for small birds.
Melinda West | West Gardens Basketry
Growing, gathering, and weaving with plant fibers from the Pacific Northwest
About Melinda
Forty years ago, while sitting on the beach playing with my young children, I made my first basket out of a pile of willow trimmings someone had tossed there. It looked wildly made like a crazy bird’s nest. While being together with my two sons on a beautiful Pacific Northwest shoreline, this simple experience of crafting with the natural materials at hand kindled a passion for creating forms using plant fibers. I thank my family, my community, and all my teachers for cultivating this gift in me.
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