Today I am starting an experiment with staghorn sumac. You can identify this type of sumac by both its fuzzy, red stangs of berries and its statuesque, velvet branches that resemble deer antlers. My colleagues in arborculture tell me you can make an interesting lemony drink from these berries, as the Native Americans used to do. At this time of the year the berries are very tender. I have harvested two clusters, or drupes, as they are known, for my little home experiment. The berries from one drupe are going into a pitcher of cool water, to be covered, and placed in the sun. In a teapot of almost boiling water, I will add the berries from the other drupe. I thought it was going to be much sunnier today than it is turning out to be. We shall see what the results yield.

Tender staghorn sumac berries freshly added to water