The mulberries are finally ripening on our weeping mulberry and large mulberry trees, about two weeks late due to our relatively chilly spring. The wildlife, unlike myself, have been more than patient but are now indulging with gusto.
American robins, house finches and fox squirrels are always the primary consumers, joined by cedar waxwings, blue jays, magpies, Bullock's orioles, spotted towhees and, if they are still around, western tanagers. Indeed, almost all of our avian and mammalian residents partake of the tasty fruit at some point.
Drought tolerant, mulberry trees are ideal for semi-arid landscapes and our wet spring may have taken a toll; a dead branch or two adorn most of the trees and one of our larger mulberries appears to be on its way out. But I have learned to wait before taking a saw to these trees; they are notoriously late to leaf out in spring and may appear dead well after our other trees are green and flowering. Needless to say, I am very pleased that our mulberry days have finally arrived!
American robins, house finches and fox squirrels are always the primary consumers, joined by cedar waxwings, blue jays, magpies, Bullock's orioles, spotted towhees and, if they are still around, western tanagers. Indeed, almost all of our avian and mammalian residents partake of the tasty fruit at some point.
Drought tolerant, mulberry trees are ideal for semi-arid landscapes and our wet spring may have taken a toll; a dead branch or two adorn most of the trees and one of our larger mulberries appears to be on its way out. But I have learned to wait before taking a saw to these trees; they are notoriously late to leaf out in spring and may appear dead well after our other trees are green and flowering. Needless to say, I am very pleased that our mulberry days have finally arrived!
