Springtime has finally arrived in Milwaukee.  Just in time for Memorial Day 🙂

Our crab apple tree is blossoming, although the show this year is a little sparse. I’d forgotten that it seems to have an alternating cycle, producing lots of blossoms (and crab apples) one year and then taking a rest the next. Despite missing the luxuriant pink froth of an “active” year, at least we can look forward to fewer crab apples on the ground come late August and September.

Even with fewer blossoms, the pink branches are so cheerful. The bright rays of sunrise this morning reflected a soft pink light that filled our kitchen.

Here is a mystery bush.

At some point last summer I noticed berries on this bush in our backyard, and I remember thinking how strange it was that I’d never seen them before.  Then again, maybe not so strange.  The next day every single berry was gone!  Whatever they were, I guess the birds or squirrels or chipmunks must really love them.

Does anyone recognize this mystery bush by its blossoms?  The berries were sort of like tiny grapes, growing in an elongated bunch with one berry per each individual stem jutting out from the long stem going down the middle.

If the berries are safe to eat (for humans, that is), I’m curious to see what they taste like before the critters get them all.