2024 June 2 Cherries? Yes, please!

The Black Cherry Prunus serotina my dad planted the fall before he died is still growing strong and tall. So are the two saplings I have recently found in the yard. These beautiful native trees are so special to birds, butterflies and wildlife, but they don’t really feed humans. The tree is naturally too tall, and the tart little fruits are eaten immediately by the birds. 

The neighbors to the right of my house have a LOVELY sweet cherry tree that produces beautiful and delicious fleshy red cherries. I always wonder why they don’t eat them, but they don’t spend a lot of time in their yard. I’m jealous, for sure, but once in a while a squirrel will drop off a little twig  of ripe cherries for me to try.

A squirrel gave me these sweet cherries!

As a permaculture-minded human, I am not against non-native trees as long as they aren’t invasive and they provide for me. I have thought about planting my own sweet cherry tree, since I know they work well in this understory. Today, while spending time out back just observing, I found TWO sweet cherry saplings in perfect locations! Honestly, right where I would have planted them! They will live right there and hopefully bear fruit in 5ish years.

This first photo is by the fence among the Rose of Sharon Hibiscus (edible, but invasive). The second photo is among the Gooseneck Loosestrife (incredibly invasive, I hate it)

Here’s the neighbor’s Sweet Cherry below (parent of the saplings presumably) is loaded with fruit and chipmunks and squirrels and birds. 

Edit: Check out the bark of the native Black Cherry in my yard (below). It’s changing from the horizontal lenticels to the woodier bark of adult trees. 

While I’m at it, here’s a picture of the Black Cherry today. Getting tall!