Remember the serviceberry I posted about for Wildflower Wednesday? It opened up all of the way, looking at a distance like a froth of white wedding lace. None of the other serviceberries bloomed as long as this one; the rest opened up when temps were in the mid 80's and the flowers blew quickly.
March 30, 2014
April 9th
I love the fuzzy leaves, bright spring green on top and silver on the bottom. Looks like there could be a lot of fruit this year. I don't know if this is true of our trees, but Michael Dirr writes that "ripe fruits are better than highbush blueberries; I have had serviceberry pie and it ranks in the first order of desserts".
I don't think there will be any pawpaw fruit this year, since only one of our trees is big enough to flower. This one has never had nearly this many flowers before. They look like brushed velvet texture and the colors are a lovely combination of lime green and wine.
This tree is a wild type purchased from the NC Botanical Garden; in March DH planted 2 other pawpaws nearby, a Pennsylvanian Gold and another wild one, both from Stark Brothers. I have never actually tasted a pawpaw, but they sound intriguing, and quite good. Allison Aubrey from NPR describes a pawpaw is "sort of mango-meets-the-banana, with a little hint of melon". Dirr says that the fruit "has a taste similar to a banana with a custard consistency".
I also just like the look of this tree, with its long nodding leaves and golden fall color.
Your serviceberry is magnificent, covered in flowers. I've heard that comment about pawpaw tasting like banana custard, but I've never eaten one myself. I was considering all kinds of trees for my front garden this year. I was thinking of getting a pawpaw, but didn't. So many trees, so little space.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tree which is so interesting for us because we cannot grow it here. The fruits sound delicious.
ReplyDeleteLovely blooms and interesting info about the plants, as always.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Easter ~ FlowerLady
Beautiful serviceberry. There is an elegance to them, even though they are standing crooked!
ReplyDeleteThe flowers on the paw-paw tree are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI love the photos with the white Amelanchier blossoms and the blue sky.
ReplyDeleteTerrific photos, as always. Have you ever gotten to taste the serviceberries? I would think the birds would devour them all before you could get to them.
ReplyDeleteI've never gotten to taste the berries. When we cleared 7 years ago to move the house a lot more young serviceberries showed up at the wood's edge. Those trees have just gotten big enough now to have a lot of fruit.
DeleteThat said, the birds may very well devour them all!
Spring is such an exciting time in our gardens, full of the promise of wonderful things to come. I've never tasted serviceberries but once, because I was very curious and my own trees haven't bloomed yet, I ordered some paw paws online from a place in Ohio. Their season is brief and they don't have much of a shelf life. I ordered a few pounds of them and was delighted to finally taste the fabled fruit, brought some to work for friends to try as well. Give it a try!
ReplyDeleteSweetbay, your serviceberry tree is spectacular! I have a couple of young ones that did produce flowers this year, but nothing like yours. I am thinking mine may need more sun. I have tasted the berries, and they are delicious. I planted my trees for the birds. Bluebirds especially love them, and I have nesting bluebirds nearby. Maybe they will leave me a handful or two! I have never tasted Pawpaw. The flowers are beautiful!
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