As part of our Cycles of Gaia ecological calendar project, over the course of the year, we will share an insight each month on one of the member species of the calendar, or some other ecological element of the Northeast Coastal Zone (southern New England) drawn out by the calendar. This month, as summer begins, we focus on the fascinating history of the juneberry.
As its name implies, the juneberry (also known as the shadbush or serviceberry, among other monikers) is ready to come out this time of year.1 With an appearance akin to blueberries, and many varieties, the juneberry tastes like a mixture of dark cherry, blueberry, and raisin, with an undertone of almond (at least according to tasting experts).
This fruit has significance in North American native peoples’ diets (NDSU). Pemmican (pictured below)—a dish of dried meat (such as bison), berries, and melted fat—is often made with juneberries. Pemmican was used by Europeans in the fur trade as well, and later by explorers of the Arctic and Antarctica, as an energy-rich source of sustenance. The history of pemmican is fascinating in and of itself—I encourage you to read more about its background sometime!
Residents (particularly settlers, missionaries, and explorers) of the North American Plains and Prairies incorporated the juneberry into a regular part of their diets, as they had consumed its woodland varieties in North America’s eastern parts. Juneberries grow well in a variety of soils, from pHs between 4.8-8 and textures between coarse sand and silty clay (CornellCALS). Blueberries, on the other hand, need acidic, well-drained soil to provide a suitable growing environment. However popular blueberries are, juneberries are a great alternative in climates that do not support the former, more marketable fruit. Native to the cold, dry climates of the upper midwest, the juneberry plant—which is part of the rose, or Rosaceae, family and comes in both shrub and small tree form—can survive New England’s harsh winters.
However, juneberries are susceptible to a variety of diseases and other issues, like powdery mildew from high humidity, “Entomosporium leaf and berry spot, juniper-apple rust, fireblight, brown fruit rot, Cytospora canker, […] and blackleaf.” Growing juneberries organically without pesticides also proves difficult, as “insect problems include: wooly elm aphids, thrips, mites, bud moths, Saskatoon sawflies that burrow into the fruit and pear slug sawflies that eat leaf surfaces” (CornellCALS).
In Middletown, there are actually juneberries growing right on Wesleyan’s campus (appearing as petite street trees in front of the College of the Environment). Coming out in the summer as they do, I have yet to try juneberries, though I do not doubt their delectability! If you are like me and never had them either, I encourage you to try to find a tree—give them a taste if you see them on a walk, or search for them on this fruit tree map (though be sure to confirm it really is a serviceberry before eating!).
Endnote
1) Why’s it called shadbush? Because the flowers appear in early spring when the shad are spawning. If that doesn’t convey the interweavings of language and the cycles of nature, nothing does!
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