Strawberry Patch Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

In spite of their common name, strawberries - like raspberries and blackberries - are not true berries, but examples of aggregate fruits (etaerio). These are fruits that develop from the merger of several ovaries separated in a single flower. True berries, on the other hand, are simple fruits produced from a single flower that contains one ovary: blueberries, cranberries, grapes, currants and bananas belong to this category. Strawberries are also accessory fruits, containing tissue coming not only from the ovary, but also from other parts of the plant. What we call seeds are actually fruits (achenes), each of them containing a seed; the fleshy part of the strawberry is called a receptacle.

The widely cultivated garden strawberry is a hybrid plant named Fragaria x ananassa, as its flavour is reminiscent of that of the pineapple (Ananas comosus). It was originally bred in 1750 by crossing a wild strawberry species from North America, Fragaria virginiana, with one from Chile, Fragaria chiloensis. This hybrid eventually replaced the European wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) in commercial production. Like other popular fruits, strawberries belong to the rose family (Rosaceae).

Answer: Oregon

Part of the larger Blue Mountains range, the Strawberry Range is located within Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon. Its highest peak, Strawberry Mountain, stands at an elevation of about 2,750 m (9,020 ft): it was originally named Strawberry Butte by Nathan Willis Fisk, a mid-19th-century pioneer, because of the abundant wild strawberry plants that grow in the area. The range contains the protected Strawberry Mountain Wilderness (established in 1964), which includes seven alpine lakes and the headwaters of many streams.

Covered by conifer forests, the area is home to numerous plant species besides wild strawberries, and wildlife that includes Rocky Mountain elk, bighorn sheep and mountain goats. The Strawberry Range is a popular hiking destination during the summer and early autumn months. Malheur National Forest, which covers an area of over 5,700 km² (1.4 million acres), is known for hosting what is believed to be the world's largest living organism, a specimen of the fungus Armillaria ostoyae.

Answer: Othello

In Act III of William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" (written around 1603), the villainous ensign Iago finalizes his plan to avenge himself on the title character for having promoted Cassio as lieutenant over him by undermining the Moorish general's relationship with his wife, Desdemona - leading him to suspect her of infidelity with Cassio. In Scene III, Emilia, Iago's wife and Desdemona's maidservant, comes upon a handkerchief dropped by her mistress, a family heirloom that was the first gift Desdemona had received from Othello. Unaware of Iago's intentions, Emilia gives it to him at his request. Later in the scene, Iago manages to persuade Othello of Desdemona's infidelity - which eventually leads to the death of Desdemona (killed by Othello), Emilia (stabbed by Iago), and the Moor himself, who commits suicide.

The handkerchief, which becomes the key element of the tragic unfolding of this tale of jealousy, resentment and racial prejudice, is described as being "spotted with strawberries" - evoking the image of a white piece of linen embroidered with red strawberries, a popular embroidery motif in the Elizabethan era. According to some scholars, the white lines symbolizes Desdemona's purity, and the strawberries the blood of her lost virginity. There may also be a reference to the famous line in Virgil's "Eclogues" (Eclogue 3) that warns about a cold snake lurking in the grass near where strawberries and flowers grow - hinting at Iago's treason.

Answer: Ingmar Bergman

The original title of Ingmar Bergman's "Wild Strawberries" is "Smultronstället", which in Swedish means "the place of wild strawberries". The phrase, however, is not used here in its literal meaning, but in the metaphorical one of a hidden place that holds a particular significance for someone. The film, whose screenplay was written by Bergman while in hospital, stars veteran Swedish actor and director Victor Sjöstrom in the role of 78-year-old Professor Isak Borg, a grumpy physician who embarks on a long car journey in order to receive an award from his old university. He is accompanied by his pregnant daughter-in-law, with whom he does not get along.

During the trip, a series of encounters and dreams force Isak to reevaluate his past life and confront his impending death - eventually leading to a sense of acceptance and peace. One of Isak's reminiscences is about his cousin and first love Sara, who ended up marrying his brother, picking strawberries for a family celebration. "Wild Strawberries" won the Golden Bear at the 8th Berlin Film Festival (1958), and in 1960 won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film. The film was a major influence on the 1980 Woody Allen movie "Stardust Memories".

The photo of a patch of wild strawberries was taken in Sweden, where - as in all of Northern Europe - gathering berries in the woods is a favourite summer activity. The three directors listed as wrong answers are from France (Godard), Germany (Wenders) and Russia (Tarkovsky).

Answer: Hyeronimus Bosch

Painted between 1490 and 1510, "The Garden of Earthly Delights" is a large triptych by Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch, one of the most distinctive and influential artists of the early Northern Renaissance. The work, part of the vast collection of Madrid's Museo Nacional del Prado, is known for its intricate symbolism and rather outré imagery, which makes it unlikely that it was created as an altarpiece for a church or monastery.

According to a common interpretation, the painting was created to serve as a warning against temptation, embodied by images that bring to mind the work of Surrealist artists five centuries later. In fact, while the triptych's left wing depicts the Garden of Eden, the right wing depicts a nightmarish hellscape - meant to convey the consequences of indulging in the pleasures of the flesh. Fruits, often engorged to giant proportions, are a key element in this fantastic yet disturbing landscape - in particular strawberries, interpreted by some as symbols of the ephemeral nature of earthly pleasures. In the 17th century, the triptych was known the "strawberry painting" because of the presence of both true strawberries (like the one shown in the detail) and other red fruits identified as those of the strawberry tree, called "madroño" in Spanish - incidentally, one of the emblems of the city of Madrid.

The three painters listed as wrong answers are also major Northern Renaissance artists.

Answer: Mellotron

Released on 13 February 1967 as a double A-side single with "Penny Lane", "Strawberry Fields Forever" was later included in the US LP edition of The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" (November 1967). One of the most iconic productions of the Lennon-McCartney writing team, the song was also influential in the development of psychedelic rock in the late 1960s. John Lennon's lyrics, reportedly inspired by his experiences with LSD, reflect his childhood memories of garden parties at Strawberry Field (whose entrance gates appear in the photo), a Salvation Army children's home located near his Liverpool residence. The song is also remarkable as one of the earliest instances of promotional music video.

A rather divisive release, as it was markedly different from the band's previous singles, "Strawberry Fields Forever" features a flute-like introduction produced with a Mellotron, a keyboard instrument developed in 1963 that, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, became synonymous with progressive rock. In particular, the Mellotron was extensively employed on The Moody Blues' groundbreaking second album, "Days of Future Passed" (which contains the well-known song "Nights in White Satin"), also released in November 1967. The Mellotron heard on "Strawberry Fields Forever" belonged to Lennon, but the song's iconic intro was played by Paul McCartney.

A Stylophone is a miniature analog synthesizer that can be heard on David Bowie's song "Space Oddity" (1969).

Answer: Panama

The amphibian family Dendrobatidae comprises over 170 species of small, diurnal frogs native to the tropical regions of Central and South America. Most members of this family are characterized by their bright colours, which have an aposematic function - that is, they warn potential predators that an animal is not worth attacking or eating. As their common name, implies, these amphibians' defense mechanism consists of toxic skin secretions derived from their diet of ants, mites and other small invertebrates found in leaf litter. These secretions are used by some indigenous peoples of Central and South America to poison their hunting blowdarts.

The strawberry poison dart frog (Oophaga pumilio) is found in forested areas of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, where it is relatively common - unlike other Dendrobatidae species, which are threatened or endangered. This species is the most toxic of its genus: its skin toxicity is due to its diet of ants rich in formic acid. Though often displaying the bright red colour to which it owes its common name, the strawberry poison dart frog is known for its wide range of colour variations and patterns, which have made it a particular favourite to be kept in captivity.

Answer: Venetian

Quite rare in nature, strawberry blonde is a beautiful hair colour that mixes golden blonde with subtle coppery-red undertones. The pinkish tinge referenced by its name is most evident when the hair is exposed to sunlight or other bright lights. The definition for this colour was first used in print in the mid-1870s, and popularized by an 1895 song titled "The Band Played On (Casey Would Waltz with a Strawberry Blonde)". The 1941 movie "The Strawberry Blonde", starring Rita Hayworth, James Cagney and Olivia de Havilland, took its title from the song.

The name Venetian blonde for the same hair colour is, of course, much older in origin, as it referred to the reddish-blonde shade that fashionable Venetian ladies obtained by using potash water and decoctions of various plants on their hair, which was then exposed to the sun. The painting in the photo, "Portrait of a Venetian Woman" by German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer, offers an excellent example of this lovely shade - as do many of the gorgeous women portrayed by Florentine painter Sandro Botticelli. However, in spite of their shared origin, Venetian blonde should not be confused with Titian (named after the High Renaissance Venetian painter), which is a shade of rich, brownish orange.

Answer: William Morris

Created in 1883, "Strawberry Thief" was one of the most popular textile designs by William Morris, who is also known for his literary works and socialist activism. Displaying Morris' trademark repeating composition, it is named for the thrushes that Morris found stealing strawberries and other fruit from the kitchen garden of his country home, Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire. The pattern was printed with a very time-consuming method known as discharge printing, using indigo dye. This process, which resulted in fabrics printed with the design being particularly expensive, produced greatly detailed images. The vivid red of the strawberries was rendered with alizarin, a dye originally derived from madder root, but produced synthetically since 1869.

In spite of its hefty price, "Strawberry Thief" was a commercial success in high demand for furnishings such as curtains or furniture covers. The design, which remains popular also for printed goods such as cards and stationery, inspired a 2019 novel by Joanne Harris (the fourth book in the series that began with "Chocolat") and a video game released in 2014.

Answer: Eton

Strawberries are among the most beloved fruits in the British Isles, where they are grown in plentiful amounts. The iconic Wimbledon treat of strawberries and cream is thought to date from the early 16th century, when the dessert was first served to Henry VIII at a banquet given by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey at Hampton Court Palace. Though much more recent in origin, Eton mess is no less popular - not only for its delicious taste, but also for its remarkable ease of preparation. There are different versions of its origins. According to some sources, the dessert was first mentioned in print in 1893 when it was served to Queen Victoria as "Eton mess aux fraises". Other sources report that it originated at Eton College, the elite boarding school for boys located across the river Thames from Windsor Castle, where it is traditionally served at the annual cricket match between Eton and Harrow, another elite school.

Named for its "messy" appearance, in its modern version the dessert is made by mixing fresh strawberries with whipped cream and crisp meringue pieces - creating an appealing combination of white and red. Although strawberries are the traditional choice, Eton mess can also be made with other berries or soft fruit. As with any dessert containing meringue, it should be prepared no more than an hour before serving to prevent the meringue pieces from disintegrating.