Knotberry Farm

 In early August in the PNW , the invasive Japanese Knotweed flowers, and lasts into September. Its honey in the comb looks like transmission fluid, though that's said to old people like myself, who actually have seen transmission fluid. It's probably not something that people who drive cars-you-can't- work- on have ever, or will ever, see. As with so many things exiting the planet.

But Knotweed honey is amazing- a real treasure- and a real hit for people who buy my honey. This version is a little lighter than in the past? So I call it Knotberry honey, as I don't doubt there's some lingering Blackberry in it. It's sort of a blend.

Knotberry is of course a reference to "Knotsberry farm"- an ancient competitor to Disney- long gone I think- where my dad took me when I was 5 when we traveled camping to California, and where we were robbed by desperate bandits while riding on a stagecoach. An event which I actually sort of recall, though in 1965, most likely due the trauma. There was nothing fun about it. I think the driver got shot? Is that entertainment?  Getting on the stagecoach, getting off, where we went or saw, or even the horses, I can't recall at all- and so wish I could now.

The plant I actually recall seeing at the bottom of our yard in 1970 or so. I though it was some sort of bamboo. Little did I know how it would spread.

It does have an interesting biology, well worth looking up.