Monday, June 2, 2014

Chokecherry Blooms

The Pin Cherries have already bloomed.  They were late this year.  When the Pin Cherries are in bloom I always smile and think about an old neighbor Naomi.  The Power Crews were coming along to clear out the brush and trees underneath the power lines, Naomi tied all kinds of ribbons on her Pin Cherry and then proceeded to tell them that they better leave it alone…and they did.

The Chokecherries are blooming now along with the Lilacs.

The Driveway May 30

Our driveway has a number of Chokecherry bushes.  Some people make jelly if it is a really good year…others like us just leave the berries for the birds.

Chokecherry Blooms May 30

Prunus virginiana or Chokecherry

A long time ago…I used to make juice and can it and then make jelly in the winter when I had more time. 

Chokecherry Blooms two

The blooms are highly fragrant.  If you wait for the berries and pop one in your mouth you will understand why they are called Chokecherries.  They are bitter and require a fair amount of sugar to be palatable.

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21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps this is what is blooming in the woods behind us. We have been wondering what it is!

Cynthia said...

I love that smell! They used to grow in the woods behind my house when I was a kid and that smell reminds me of school letting out for the summer and that luxurious feeling of freedom! Ah, memories . . . .

Primitive Stars said...

Morning, oh love the wild Chokecherry blooms, but not the berry, yuk!!! Love the driveway scene, pretty, Francine.

Unknown said...

So nice to see the green grass on both sides of your driveway. What a change from the recent snowy landscape. Summer is really here at last.

Shirley H.

linda m said...

I remember those from when I was a kid. Love the driveway scene. So nice to see everything blooming again.

DJan said...

I don't think I've ever noticed them before. I guess I would have noticed the smell if they were around. Your neighbor was very proactive about those pin cherries. :-)

Gail said...

Food for the birds is always good. We try to plant some extra things for the birds and the bees, too.

Red said...

It's a great time when all the native shrubs bloom. We have Saskatoon, pin cherry and choke cherry blooming but no lilacs. Oh I forgot. I found strawberry blooms.

Nancy said...

The lilacs just finished blooming here. I love their fragrance.

Beth said...

I am glad your lilacs are finally blooming. They have been gone for quite a while here!

L. D. said...

We will always be a month earlier than you because we live in the South. Well south compared to northern Minnesota. My ornamental chokecherry has the same great fragrance. My neighbor lady is always disappointed that my tree never puts out fruit. I guess the labels on the trees are really important to read. My peonies are really late this year. There are some that just are not going to bloom from winter conditions but people south of our town are all blooming.

Anonymous said...

Never heard of chokeberries - but they look lovely.

kathy b said...

the smell of lilacs is perfuming the air around here. I love to smell it as I walk by. Night blooming Jasmine is a favorite that grew in the Keys …I wish I could grow it here. So lovely

LindaG said...

Wonderful photos.
Have a great week!

Jacqi Stevens said...

I can see why you say you leave those berries for the birds. On the other hand, the tartness is a nice counterpoint to the usual sugar of jams and jellies. I used to like to add wild plums to my plum jam, just for that extra edge. Intense.

Unknown said...

But the best jam in captivity sells for $10 for 8 oz on thw web. Remember picking these behind Walt Graham's ?

Far Side of Fifty said...

Yes I remember, I will try to pick some this year and make you some jelly:)

Linda Reeder said...

I think we have choke cherries here, but I don't know what pin cherries are.
I remember reading the book "Hatchet", about a boy who survived a plane crash in the Canadian woods. He sickened himself on chokecherries. That's what I think of when I hear the name.

Pauline Persing said...

I don't know many of the native shrubs in this area. I have taking a class to learn about them on my bucket list.

Terry and Linda said...

The blooms are beautiful!


Linda
http://coloradofarmlife@wordpress.com

Sam I Am...... said...

Thank you for showing those blooms. I've heard of it but never could have identified one.