Question
When hiking in the Berkshires last week I ran across a patch of red currants.  This was on top of a hill on an Audubon wildlife reservation in Lenox, MA.  They were a little stunted and did not taste as good as the ones I grown next to my house, but nevertheless...  I've never seen red currants growing wild before. Is that possible, or did someone plant them there somehow?


Answer
Ribes triste, a native currant, is generally found further North but may occur at higher elevations.

Is it possible that the location was a former home site?  The smaller size of the berries could be due to competition (from other vegetation) and/or lack of fertilizer.