Berries, Rose Hips and Paw Paws

This afternoon I began my walk hearing the far distant rumble of thunder. I chose to walk across our small hay field in order to view the many butterfiles that are visiting white queen anne's lace and orange butterfly weed scattered across the field. I cut into the woods across from our treehouse then followed the timber trail behind the large hay field coming out at the hill's edge. It was time for a rest.  I sat on a clear spot and looked up at the trees forming a green keleidescope of shade overhead. As I listened to the blue jays nervously announce my presence I could almost feel the storm's still far-off rumblings. For now, it was time to leave the woods and see what was happening in the big hay field.  Berries and nuts are  becoming ripe and ready for birds, squirrels and small mammels to harvest.

 Some I couldn't readily identify, though most I know. This plant to the left is one I have not yet found. Its bright green berries blend in with its surrounding leaves like a bouquet.

A trio of dogwood berries squeeze together blushing a rosy pink as they ripen even while their tree's leaves curl in response to several weeks of dry weather.

Berries range from blush to pure, shining red, dangling from a chocolate brown branch

Nothing beats a sumac for brilliant gaudiness.  These fuchsia berries exploded with white powder when I tried to inspect them.

Their shapes appear random.   This one could be Jimmy Durante's nose after a day at the beach without sunscreen.

A bundle of the fruits look tropical.

Even multifloral rose is getting ready to provide winter food as its hips mature.

Not only berries and rose hips, but paw paws are filling out and will soon be ripe, falling to the forest floor, filling the air with their faint aroma of bananas. The seasons inevitably change. While I wish to deny it summer is wrapping things up. In the middle of ninety-five degree days fall is already planning its arrival. The animals know it. It's time I accept it. 

But rumblings are getting closer. I need to hurry home.  The storm is getting close. More about that tomorrow.

Sumac Berry Feast

Cleared grass fields are beautiful with their great expanse of green in early summer then drying to brown hay as the grass matures through the summer.  The grass seeds are nice for birds, mice and other small animals and for the larger animals that eat them but the border areas where the hay fields becomes woods is interesting too. Here the grass is joined with brush, bush and small trees, becoming food and shelter to numerous animals and birds.  Border areas are especially needed in winter when food is scarce elsewhere. These border areas are where birds will likely find wild rose bushes, sumac, grape vines and other food sources during the winter.

I noticed a particular sumac tree that became local fast-food restaraunt for several birds during a time when our ground was covered with snow. My eyes followed a pileated woodpecker as it flew overhead then landed in the sumac.  Branches bounced under the bird's weight. Ready to investigate, I stepped off the road to walk across the snow covered field.  Drawing closer, I could see blue jays and other birds flying to and from the tree. 

Another pileated woodpecker alighted on a nearby tree before making its way to the sumac

Each time I moved forward the woodpeckers would leave the sumac, quickly returning once I stood still. those berries were too hard to resist.  Hanging on looked precarious as this one below fell around the branch, its tail feathers splaying out for balance.

The flickers wanted their share of the sumac berries.

At one point there were three flickers and two pileated woodpeckers on that one sumac.  They would not all hold still at once.  My camera and I may have made them nervous.

While watching, a decision was made.  I needed to plant save a few seeds from this plant for my own garden.  Its berries were a nice addition to the winter landscape, redder than many types of sumac,

 

This tree will soon be wearing a ribbon to protect it from next spring's chainsaw and bumps from the tracter.