Red osier

Osier is a rough grass, often used for basket making. Being that red osier was a prized color by the Native Americans, finding a pattern of red lines on a native elder's face is a sign that they're looking after their tribe's welfare.Quality and food-craft are second to none, at The Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, and our people are no exception. One of the benefits of maintaining such a history of service to customers in our area is familiarity with our staff. You’ll find Bartenders, Servers and Carvers to be genuine and friendly. They know all about our menu and just how to treat our customers.Considered by many to be a Genesee County landmark, The Red Osier Landmark Restaurant has served the same signature prime rib since 1979. Owners Steven Foster and Tim Adams have a long history with this premier dining location. Steven has worked for the founding owners for 20 years, spending 10 as their Manager.

Red

In the wild, it most commonly grows in areas of rich, poorly drained soils, such as riparian zones and wetlands, or in upland areas which receive more than 20 inches of precipitation annually. More uncommonly, it may be found in drier zones albeit at lesser abundance. Red osier dogwood is tolerant of flooding and has been known to survive up to seven years of water above root crown level. It occurs from sea level to 10,000 feet (3,000m), but in many areas is most common above 1,500 feet.Red osier dogwood provides food and cover for many species of mammals and birds. The stems and especially new shoots are browsed by moose, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, beavers, and rabbits, while the fruits are an important autumn food source for bears, small mammals, and 47 different bird species. In winter, red osier dogwood is heavily browsed by ungulates; in some areas use exceeds availability and individuals which have not been browsed are rare. The shrub is also important for nesting habitat and cover for a great variety of animals.

Red-osier dogwood was one of several plants referred to as “kinnikinik” by American Indians for its use as a tobacco substitute. The inner bark of young stems was split and scraped into threads and toasted over a fire before being mixed with real tobacco. Edible plant enthusiast H.D. Harrington wrote that Red-osier “is said to be aromatic and pungent, giving a narcotic effect approaching stupefaction”. He recommended its use only in moderation.Conditions Comments: This dogwood is adaptable to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions but is plagued by twig blight, scale and bagworms. Red twigs are especially effective in winter against the snow. Cornus occidentalis occurs throughout cismontane CA to B.C. in the same habitats as C. sericea.It is often planted as an ornamental for aesthetic purposes and to attract birds, and it is also used as a secondary plant for windbreaks. The Ojibwa and Chippewa Indians used the bark as a dye by mixing it with other plants and minerals to produce red, light red, ecru, and black dyes. (Source: naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu)