Lowbush Blueberry
Wild blueberries are starting to ripen. You can find these low shrubs growing along the bluffs above Hillers Creek. The flowers and berries are easy to miss because they are … Continued
American Beautyberry
Beautyberry is a native shrub that has bright violet berries. Because the fruits are so attractive these shrubs are often used as an ornamental in gardens. At the PGT you … Continued
Wild Persimmon
Persimmons are beginning to ripen and as they drop, they are being eaten by many kinds of mammals, including our dog Katy; she loves them. At the PGT you’re most … Continued
Jack-in-the-Pulpit Fruit
Walking through the woods last week I saw a patch of bright red berries mixed in the underbrush. These are the fruits of Jack-in-the-Pulpit, an ephemeral spring wildflower. Finding these … Continued
Spicebush Fruit
The fruits on Spicebush are beginning to ripen and turn red. They won’t last long, because the birds love them. Spicebush is a native shrub that grows in thickets in … Continued
Pokeweed Berries
This native plant doesn’t get the respect it deserves; it should be used more in gardens. It’s very colorful and not like any other plant I can think of. The … Continued
Sassafras Fruit
Yesterday the bright red stalks that holds the fruit of the Sassafras tree caught my eye. What a wonderful contrast to the dark blue fruits. Sassafras is a common small … Continued
Wild Raspberries
We picked and ate Black Raspberries on our walk yesterday. Delicious! They are my favorite native fruit. In contrast to blackberries, raspberry thorns are no big deal. You can find … Continued
Fragrant Sumac
The berries of this native shrub are turning red now as the hairy clusters ripen. Wildlife enjoys the fruit and the leaves have some of the best fall color of … Continued
Hedge Apple
The Osage Orange trees that were planted by the European settlers in the mid 1800s can still be seen in hedge rows at the Prairie Garden Trust (PGT). They produce … Continued