Robins, towhees, white-crowned and song sparrows, starlings and crows; all have been gorging on Amelanchier fruits since they began turning red a few weeks ago.
Thanks for the reminder on Saskatoon berries. I ordered some suitable screen fabric at once. We planted 6 plants 2seasons ago. May have berries this year
Oh I love this information about Serviceberries. Robin Wall Kimmerer has done some wonderful writing about them and the Circle of Reciprocity to which they belong. I’m a fan. I just don’t know if actually seen a Serviceberry Bush. Your photo is helpful and your commentary inspirational- for looking for them. And watching. 🙏
Love this note, Steffany. Thank you. Love also the tie in to Robin Wall Kimmerer. She's such a master observer and weaver of stories. I am a devoted student of her works. I have a sneaky little hunch that you will have seen a Serviceberry Bush before, but just looked past it. They are kind-of quietly beautiful when they are in bloom and beautiful in Autumn when they color up, but much of the year just disappear, visually into the world around them. The birds will know where they are. So if you're paying attention to the birds, they may bring the Shadblow bushes to your attention. Thank you for the kind note.
Wow, I’d never heard of or seen a Serviceberry tree before - stunning!
We have a raspberry bush that has been plentiful this year. We are, however, sharing its fruits with a very, very bold male Blackbird. Many times we’ve headed into the garden to collect a punnet, only to be met by the confrontational glare of our winged co-inhabitant, so we return empty handed. We’ve probably been identified as pushovers…
I feel like I know your blackbird's cousin, who behaves similarly. OK, now, a terminology question. What is a punnet? A British term, no doubt that I've never heard before, and whose, 'rolls off the tongue' sound I quite like. Is it some sort of unit of measure, or a type of pail, or...
Oh, my apologies! I just assumed that had made its way across the pond. A punnet is ‘a small light basket or other container for fruit or vegetables’. Ours is a little wicker thing, but the cardboard ones at the market are also punnets. I wonder if there’s an American equivalent? A cousin to the punnet, as there is to the mildly aggressive, berry obsessed blackbird...
I have a new term for an old friend. Berries and cherries and even apricots come home in these handy containers, but until today they had no proper name within my vocabulary. Thanks.
I learned so much---about both bird and berry! This was a great read. Now I'm imagining serviceberry plantings all over the place here! (and tasting a ripe berry is now on my bucket list)
I'm smiling, happy to have offered something of value, Toni. Thanks for making time to leave such a kindness in reply. Bet you'll be smiling when you finally taste a Saskatoon.
Thanks for the reminder on Saskatoon berries. I ordered some suitable screen fabric at once. We planted 6 plants 2seasons ago. May have berries this year
Photos are great! Thanks.
I wish you the best of luck on your harvest adventures, Bill and thank you for making time to leave a kind note.
Oh I love this information about Serviceberries. Robin Wall Kimmerer has done some wonderful writing about them and the Circle of Reciprocity to which they belong. I’m a fan. I just don’t know if actually seen a Serviceberry Bush. Your photo is helpful and your commentary inspirational- for looking for them. And watching. 🙏
Love this note, Steffany. Thank you. Love also the tie in to Robin Wall Kimmerer. She's such a master observer and weaver of stories. I am a devoted student of her works. I have a sneaky little hunch that you will have seen a Serviceberry Bush before, but just looked past it. They are kind-of quietly beautiful when they are in bloom and beautiful in Autumn when they color up, but much of the year just disappear, visually into the world around them. The birds will know where they are. So if you're paying attention to the birds, they may bring the Shadblow bushes to your attention. Thank you for the kind note.
Thanks David. https://emergencemagazine.org/essay/the-serviceberry/
Just in case you haven’t read this lovely essay.
Wow, I’d never heard of or seen a Serviceberry tree before - stunning!
We have a raspberry bush that has been plentiful this year. We are, however, sharing its fruits with a very, very bold male Blackbird. Many times we’ve headed into the garden to collect a punnet, only to be met by the confrontational glare of our winged co-inhabitant, so we return empty handed. We’ve probably been identified as pushovers…
I feel like I know your blackbird's cousin, who behaves similarly. OK, now, a terminology question. What is a punnet? A British term, no doubt that I've never heard before, and whose, 'rolls off the tongue' sound I quite like. Is it some sort of unit of measure, or a type of pail, or...
Oh, my apologies! I just assumed that had made its way across the pond. A punnet is ‘a small light basket or other container for fruit or vegetables’. Ours is a little wicker thing, but the cardboard ones at the market are also punnets. I wonder if there’s an American equivalent? A cousin to the punnet, as there is to the mildly aggressive, berry obsessed blackbird...
I have a new term for an old friend. Berries and cherries and even apricots come home in these handy containers, but until today they had no proper name within my vocabulary. Thanks.
I learned so much---about both bird and berry! This was a great read. Now I'm imagining serviceberry plantings all over the place here! (and tasting a ripe berry is now on my bucket list)
I'm smiling, happy to have offered something of value, Toni. Thanks for making time to leave such a kindness in reply. Bet you'll be smiling when you finally taste a Saskatoon.
Yes, mine too!
You can double up, taste a handful of wild Saskatoons while making introductions to your first American Goldfinch.
This is a lovely thought to be holding as I’m about to sleep...