Ode to the Oregon Grape
Here you'll see Low Oregon Grape (Mahonia nervosa) growing all around you. Take a moment to appreciate the plants.
Common in the Pacific Northwest are the aforementioned Mahonia nervosa and Mahonia aquifolium (Tall Oregon Grape), both with the characteristic holly-like leaf shape. There are many other species of Mahonia.
Low Oregon Grape is also called Cascade Oregon Grape, Cascade Barberry, Dull Oregon Grape, or Longleaf Mahonia. It is called “dull” because its leaves are not as shiny as Tall Oregon Grape. Nervosa in its Latin name means “having distinct veins or nerves” and refers to the leaf venation.
Woody-stemmed and spreading by rhizomes, the spring growth emerges in a light green to soft coppery-red color. In autumn the foliage responds to cold by taking on shades of bright red to burgundy. The plant makes sprays of bright yellow, fragrant, long-blooming flowers that become clusters of dusky blue, round berries that are the "grapes" providing its common name.
Are the grapes edible? Sure - but edible does not necessarily mean delicious. They are often quite tart.
In the home garden: We have Mahonia growing in a shady spot. Seeing them in the yard will help me think of this cache and this fine hike.
What about this cache?
This is located a wee bit uphill from Stan's Overlook. It's near a patch of Oregon grapes, of course.
Assuming you're hiking uphill rather than biking or horseback riding, you'll soon pass a human-made stone wall accompanied by a sharp hairpin turn. Shortly after that, this cache will be to the east-north-east (i.e. downhill side) about 10 feet before the next set of wooden gates - this is helpful in case reception is spotty here.
