dodging the raindrops

A Yellow Warbler was singing away this morning -- a late arrival on the scene -- along with the Common Yellowthroat and Pine Warbler. Did not hear the Warbling Vireo again but this was an abbreviated dodge-the-raindrops sort of morning.

Some new plants in flower: Wild Lily-of-the-Valley and Chokeberry, both local natives and Vine Honeysuckle, an introduced plant.

Chokeberry, which deserves a better name, has pretty little cluster of white and pink flowers and black berries that are quite astringent (hence the common name). This plant, now usually put into the genus Aronia, used to be called Pyrus which would make it a relative of the pear! Although the berries are not the slightest bit pear-like, this plant is in the big rose/apple family and the berries are definitely edible -- if you don't mind the astringency.

Eric Salzman