The Birds and the Berries.

10-20-16 SHORT HILLS: It has been hot this week. There were record setting temps of 85° and 87° on Tuesday and Wednesday. Today is overcast and feels like rain, and it’s only in the seventies. Rain would be welcome.

The ash trees are almost done and maples are in color, but most trees are just starting. We are also getting color from the berries that are ripening now. The berry color catches our eyes and those of the birds. The birds eat the berries and, later, poop out the seed giving a new shrub or tree a chance to grow. That’s why we have viburnums, hollies, barberries and burning bushes all over the yard.

I did plant tree seedlings, two oaks, a tulip tree and a sycamore in the big hole left by ash tree removal. There is more pruning and trimming awaiting me.


Beauty berry, vividest color.

Ash trees showed color, a few days ago but....

....now are bare, and the leaves cover the 'Freedom Lawn' where they will remain. The lawn mowers will mow and chop the leaves up to some extent, but the leaves will not be removed and will enrich the organic layer of the soil. Gus blends in well. The sugar maple across the street has nice orange.

Winterberry holly.

Barberry.

English holly.

Asian holly.

Red chokeberry has been nibbled by the birds.

Burning bush. The seed covers are the dark red things above the newly opened berries.