We have an abundance of these berries everywhere around town and with all the seasonal decorations now being packed away …

… these lend some much needed colour to our winter landscape.

Happy Sunday.
We have an abundance of these berries everywhere around town and with all the seasonal decorations now being packed away …

… these lend some much needed colour to our winter landscape.

Happy Sunday.
Comments are closed.
I assume because there appears to be lots of them on the trees that they are not eatable?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Wayne, they are edible but need to go through a frost first to sweeten them (they’re basically unripe and extremely sour before that) but we haven’t had one yet. Birds do rely on them to get through winter and I did see one bird trying them. They apparently make good jelly but I’ve never tried it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful abundance!
LikeLiked by 2 people
My mother used to say that abundant mountain or white ash berries always signalled a long winter. I hope not!
LikeLike
I think we were the same with hips and haws.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know if there’s any scientific support for it, but it does seem to be true in some places.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Are they edible?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Neil, yes, they are but need to be cooked otherwise they can cause tummy trouble. They apparently make good jelly that’s supposed to be helpful for arthritis, but I’ve never tried it. The birds prefer to eat them after a frost (they’re basically unripe before that) since that sweetens them. They’re an important winter food source for them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They add a nice splash of color to winter’s grey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They sure do, Tricia, especially right now. It’s very, very grey and white.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They really stand out against the bark. So pretty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, Belinda. It’s so nice to see a bit of colour at the moment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We can use any colour we get. The Mountain Ash berries are prolific here too and the symbolism of so many for a long, cold, snowy winter is not lost on us. The birdies need food. Our Januray thaw is coming and then likely back to winter. Happy Sunday Lynette. Allan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Allan. Yes, the birdies need food and I’ve also seen deer eating these berries, too. They are packed with nutrients so they’re a very helpful and necessary food source. Enjoy your weather break before the next cold period arrives. So far we have escaped the wet snow that was foretold for the Okanagan, but it’s so very grey and overcast right now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They look much more red than the mountain ash, and add a lovely burst of colour. Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
The mountain ash berries tend to be more orange but it’s really difficult to tell them apart in summer; the white ash leaves are a slightly lighter colour. I’m sure this tree is a white ash though because the city has tagged it. I agree; the colour is lovely right now with the present weather so grey.
LikeLike
I have seen birds eat those tiny berries, they must be good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These might not be the same berries that you have since these have to undergo a frost to make them ripe (they basically are unripe before a frost). We haven’t had a frost yet so these are probably rather sour still. The birds are trying them though since they’re such an important food source at this time of year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I didn’t know that, thanks, Lynette!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This time of year when the snow fills up the higher elevations, the robins come down from the hills and mountain ash berries are what they fill up on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The ash trees are such an important food source at this time of year. I’ve seen deer eating them, too. We do have a huge abundance of them so for now there’s lots.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Berry cool! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
And colourful. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cedar Waxwings should like them. I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so too, Luisella. They do love their berries!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We get berries like that but, the tree is different…more like a giant sticker bush.
Very pretty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to look up sticker bush as I hadn’t heard that name before, so I think you mean a thorn bush, right? The varieties of ash trees that I’m familiar with don’t have thorns at all but in any case lots of tree types produce autumn berries that are attractive to birds. Yes, it is pretty and one of our few sources of colour right now. Cheers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These tree/bush things can have spiney leaves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks for the link. Those berries look pretty much identical even if the leaves look different. They’re so similar that they must be related, for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same family…likely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed – there’s always the chance they aren’t. Cheers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are pretty! Do the birds like them?
LikeLiked by 1 person
They sure are, especially at this time of year. Yes, these are a major food source for the birds during winter. I understand that a frost sweetens them, but we haven’t had one yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that’s interesting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, a lovely bit of colour! Cheers, Cindy. 😊
LikeLike
Love the pop of colour!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So great at this time of year! We had our first hard frost a couple of days ago and I’ve noticed that the birds are more interested in eating these now. Cheers.
LikeLiked by 1 person