I rent a house at which the back yard contains a tree with small berries that I have failed to ID so far. I suspect that at some time in the past the house was owned by Italians or Portuguese, and that fact and the fact that all the other trees in the yard are edible fruit-bearing leads me to beleieve that this probably is too. But what is it? I've attached images of the fruit, and the leaves. Any hints are appreciated. Thanks!
It's Goumi (Elaeagnus umbellata), edible and considered good. Cultivated in Japan, and often (as you mention) appears in Vancouver and Victoria in past/present Portugese/Italian neighbourhoods. Wait until they're good and ripe, though, or they'll be astringent.
