#taxonomy:species=speciosum

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J20180111-0039—Ribes speciosum—RPBG—DxO by John Rusk Via Flickr: Ribes speciosum —garnet gooseberry. Grows in the South Coast, Tranverse, and Penisular ranges from Santa Clara County into Baja California. Garnet gooseberry was one of the first California plants introduced into Europe, it finally received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Merit in 1993. Las Pilitas Nursery writes, " We have one we planted in front of our kitchen window that a hummingbird lives in for two months each year. Defending his bush with his life gallantly. The density of the plant makes a perfect bird shelter from the neighbor cat. (The hummingbirds can use the bits of fur stuck on the spines for their nests.) " The fruits are prickly as well, keeping most humans from the temptation to snack. That saves more for the birds. Photographed at Regional Parks Botanic Garden located in Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley, CA