Get your fresh berries! Rush hour traffic!

Every year it seems like there is an exact day, a precise hour, and perhaps even a specific minute – when ALL the neighborhood critters group-decide that RIGHT NOW is the perfect time to gobble-up all the perfectly-ripened berries from my serviceberry tree. And no matter how much hustle and bustle, branch-swinging and dipsy-diving, these various species of birds, squirrels and chipmunks do, they don’t seem at all concerned with one another. Plenty of berries for all – I say! (There are even tons on the ground for other types of animals to grab. Stuff flies everywhere as these guys aren’t the most mannered eaters.
The graceful serviceberry tree is native to North America. It is moderately-sized, easy to grow, and gives my yard three seasons of color—the fragrant white flowers of early spring, the edible bright berries June, and the blazing orange, yellow and red leaves in the fall. Serviceberries grow slowly, seldom need pruning, and don’t have invasive roots, so they’re a good choice for small yards like mine.
Serviceberries ripen in early summer, which is why one of the common names for the tree is Juneberry. The berries themselves are similar to blueberries in size, morphing from green to red to nearly black when fully ripe. Although they taste like really sweet blueberries, humans don’t eat them much these days, but ... they sure can!

Birds ADORE serviceberries, so just like my landscape artist promised me 20 years ago, I’m getting lots of winged visitors every year. That is of course – as my landscaper also advised – IF you decide to leave the berries on the tree.

Feathered friends, or delicious pies? It’s your choice.