How very privileged to wake up to loons' call searching through mist. How very blessed to live where I can stroll outdoors to see bracken unfurling, to marvel at the beauty of the crimson maple tree flower now brilliant before the greening leaf buds stretch open, and to be with the serviceberry— glistening white in the rising light. I shall quote something now about this wonderful shrub that was dear to my mother’s heart.
“As with many species, it is known by several common names, depending on where you live. Serviceberry is considered a derivative of sarvisberry, which in turn comes from a Latin word for a European tree with similar-looking fruit. Some people, such as Maritimers, call them shadbush which points to their blooms coming at the same time as the run of an Atlantic coast shad fish. Some other names you may recognize are bilberry, Indian pear, les poires and sugar plum. Amelanchier Canadensis
Canada serviceberry, shadbush
• Native to : ON, QC, NB, PE, NS
• Habitat : Swamps, thickets, riverbanks. Prefers sun to partial shade but may tolerate full shade, moist soil.
• Appearance : A small shrub that can grow to seven meters with oval leaves that are partially opened at the time of flowering.”
Canada serviceberry, shadbush
• Native to : ON, QC, NB, PE, NS
• Habitat : Swamps, thickets, riverbanks. Prefers sun to partial shade but may tolerate full shade, moist soil.
• Appearance : A small shrub that can grow to seven meters with oval leaves that are partially opened at the time of flowering.”
Odd isn’t it, how many descriptions leave us cold while the beauty we experience warms us to our very depths.
