Our winter weather continues – cloudy, cold, and more snow predicted. However a winter day was brightened recently when I found these red chokeberries (Aronia arbutifolia) coated with ice.
Winter is not my favorite season, but I appreciate its unique beauty. It’s tempting to stay inside, but getting out in the backyard gives me a different experience.
It’s always invigorating to get out in the fresh air, and I never know what I’ll find. And when I’ve had enough, it’s not far to the back door.
Lovely picture. Chokeberries are one of my favorite plants – especially red chokeberries. I also like the black but the red are just so colorful. They are interesting because they seem to have been created by nature to provide nourishment for the birds when other berries are gone. They do not become edible until winter. They don’t have the name chokeberry for nothing. Pretty neat!
Hadn’t thought about the name connection, Linda. Thanks.
I appreciate the unique winter beauty you find in your backyard, Betty. That blast of red in those few berries, for example, totally erases from my mind’s eye the drab gray skies that actually are overhead today. And, no kidding, that picture has me thinking how cool it would be to head to the kitchen right now to bake a syrupy, tart, cherry pie.
Steve, hope that pie tastes as good as it sounds.
Betty, enjoy the blog, keep up the good work
Linda
Lovely close-up of the icy berries, Betty! It reminded me of Emerson’s observation: “To the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, a picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again.”
Patsy, that’s a great quote. Thank you for sharing.
Ice-covered early-budding redbud has always reminded
me of Popsicles – these ice-covered red chokeberries tempt me to pop them in my mouth and enjoy. I am guessing that would not be a good idea but I do wonder what they would taste like and if they are poisonous when consumed by humans.
Beth, I was near the berries earlier this week. They are a bit darker now and somewhat soft – I’m guessing that is due to the freezing and thawing. Out of curiosity I popped one in my mouth. It had a mealy texture and there was a slight puckered sensation otherwise not much flavor. Since birds eat them, I didn’t think they would be poisonous but decided not to take any chances and spit it out. Glad to say no harmful effects – so far. 🙂
fantastic photo!