Amelanchier spp. – Serviceberry
Amelanchier is known by many common names including: Serviceberry, Shadbush, Shadwood, Juneberry, Saskatoon, Sugar Plum and Chuckley Pear. Some of those names give a hint to the fact that the fruit is edible and is commonly used for jams and pies! Native to Eastern North America, Serviceberry is a large shrub or small ornamental tree which typically grows 15 to 30 feet tall. In the early spring before any of the leaves come out, the trees are adorned with clusters of slightly fragrant, 5-petaled white flowers signaling the end of winter. The flowers that are pollinated produce small, round green berries which turn red and then ripen to dark-purplish black in early summer. The native habitat of the Serviceberry is in woodlands and along the sides of bluffs and streams. The common name Serviceberry is a reference to the fact that the plant blooms as soon as the ground begins to thaw, at the same time when people were able to dig graves again after winter.
Suzy Berschback
Healthy Communities Manager, Beaumont Health
Suzy Berschback has lived in Grosse Pointe most of her life. Suzy is a historian and is passionate about sharing the history of the region with the people that live here through storytelling events and writing. She has co-authored four local history books, Grosse Pointe 1880 -1930, Grosse Pointe Then and Now, Grosse Pointe War Memorial, and Grosse Pointe Legendary Locals. One of her favorite memories of the Detroit Riverfront is the Tall Ship parade that took place for the Detroit300 celebration.
Suzy’s favorite tree:
“Willow Tree.”
This Exhibit Took Place Along the Detroit Riverfront September 1-30