Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Fruit of the Day

Blooming Shadberry Trees, Graveyard Fields, Blue Ridge Parkway,
 North Carolina  © Doug Hickok


A hillside blooms with shadberry trees in early Spring along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Also known as serviceberry, Indian pear, or sugar pear, its purplish fruit has been used by people for centuries in sauces and pies, or eaten raw for its sweet flavor. Wildlife love the berries as well... songbirds, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, bobwhites, skunks, foxes, raccoons, black bear, squirrels, and chipmunks feast on the abundant fruit. (Not to mention being highly prized by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore).


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20 comments:

  1. ChristopherMay 10, 2011 at 12:51 AM

    Love this shot Doug--great in monochrome and excellent framing of the smaller tree.

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  2. Traveling HawkMay 10, 2011 at 2:05 AM

    Great photo, Doug! I like the composition with the bigger tre in front and the flowers bearing behind.

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  3. Cezar and LéiaMay 10, 2011 at 3:25 AM

    Bonjour Doug!
    This picture is beautiful, so peaceful scenery there!With your description, it is no real inside my mind now, I can hear the little birds and imagine the delicious pies! :)
    Thanks!
    Léia

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  4. Marie LCMay 10, 2011 at 6:00 AM

    I like a lot your choice of treatment. So romantic shot.

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  5. London CallerMay 10, 2011 at 7:05 AM

    I have never had shadberries before.
    Don't think we have shadberry pies in England either.
    Only boring apple pies, pear pies... ;)

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  6. MartyMay 10, 2011 at 7:08 AM

    love this monochrome ! beautiful shot

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  7. franzMay 10, 2011 at 7:25 AM

    looks cool in sepia, doug! (sepia day indeed!) we have serviceberry bushes here, too, but i've never heard of anyone using the fruit for consumption! (loved the blue ridge parkway! drove all the way in the opposite direction, from south to north! will do so again, some time in spring!)

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  8. ChelseaMay 10, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    I love love love love love love GRAVEYARD FIELDS!!!!!! One of my favorite places on the Parkway. Let's go there again!

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  9. Doug HickokMay 10, 2011 at 9:34 AM

    Yes...let's!

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  10. AlexandraMay 10, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    Love the sepia vintage tones in this one, it lends itself well to the shrubs and bushes. And thanks for the bg info on the area and wildlife, fascinating!

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  11. AnonymousMay 10, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    I don't know that shadberry trees are, but this is a very nice photo in this color.

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  12. harryMay 10, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    Nice simple comosition, and this works quite well in sepia.

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  13. BirdmanMay 10, 2011 at 11:07 AM

    Ha! Never heard of this type tree.

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  14. WimMay 10, 2011 at 12:44 PM

    A wonderful landscape you have here. I like the texture and the soft variety of greys.

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  15. OKMay 10, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    lovely! I really like the B&W toning here.

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  16. KathyMay 10, 2011 at 3:17 PM

    I love the ambrotype look of this photo.

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  17. FriedaMay 10, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    That's a beautifully composed pictures.
    It's the first time that I hear about this kind of berry. It must be delicious!

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  18. alfonsoMay 10, 2011 at 6:08 PM


    · I love this picture. It's a good laboratory work.

    · regards

    CR & LMA
    ________________________________
    ·

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  19. john4jackMay 10, 2011 at 7:55 PM

    wonderful tones

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  20. Theys RolandMay 11, 2011 at 3:09 AM

    An admirable composition! , to spend a beautiful day.

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