Shadberry tree.  Blogfinger photo. April 22, 2022.  (currently flowering in Firemen’s Park)  Paul Goldfinger photo.

Paul Goldfinger, Editor.

This  tree, the shadberry,  is also called Serviceberry and Amelanchier arborea. Other names include Shadbush.

The tree blooms in mid-April with its 5 petaled white flowers.  The bloom coincides with the up river run of the American shad fish which heads up the Delaware to spawn. The neighbors feed it and watch for it to bloom each spring, although the bloom only lasts for a few days. Later there will be red berries.  So far, no shad fish have appeared in Ocean Grove.

Fishing during the shad run used to be a big commercial endeavor in Pennsylvania, but the shad was almost wiped out due to over-fishing and pollution. It is making a comeback, and there is a shad festival along the Delaware in late April.

Over 10 years ago, 4  families got together and bought 8 trees for the park.   All 8 have subsequently grown to maturity.  In addition to the serviceberry, we bought a shade tree locust, two red maples, a ginko  (below),  and 2 flowering chestnut trees.

The ginko has an amazing leaf.  They are rare around here, but it and the serviceberry can be found all over New York City.

If any of you live  near an an OG park want to do this, contact the CMA, and then the DPW will plant it.

JULIE ANDREWS  from Camelot