Nannyberry in Autumn: Tasty fruit, then beautiful fall color!

So, what’s a Nannyberry?

How to ID –

It is a native shrub (sometimes a small tree) that prefers moist soils and is commonly found throughout our area. Read about and view photographs on how to identify this plant. Watch a brief video about the distinguishing characteristics of this plant. Read more about Nannyberry from a sample page from one of my wildflowers guides. Read a plant guide about this species.

Ripe fruit of Nannyberry

Read how to harvest and prepare nannyberries.  Nannyberry fruit are ripe and ready for harvest now.

Enjoy your harvest –

After sampling a few ripe raw berries for the first time a few years ago, I so enjoyed their sweet and unique flavor that I was inspired to create a spread (intended for my morning toast) similar to apple butter in its texture. Thus, “Nannyberry Butter” was born!  If you decide to try my recipe, let me know what you think of it.  Here it is.

Nannyberry Butter
Ingredients:
• 12 cups whole berries
• 2-1/4 cups water
• sugar
• ground cinnamon
• ground allspice
• ground cloves
• ground nutmeg

Preparation:
Put berries in large pot, add water. Cover and bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Put soft fruit in food mill to remove skins and large seeds. Measure fruit back into pot; about 3 cups.

Add: 1 cup sugar, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 3/8 teaspoon allspice, 3/8 ground cloves and 3/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Stir well. Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Ladle into hot sterilized jars, attach covers and process in water bath for 10 minutes.

Remove and let cool for 24 hours, then store in cool, dark place.

Nannyberry Butter

I was then inspired to create another recipe to use my Nannyberry Butter.  Read on the link immediately below to see if Nannyberry Butter Mini Pumpkin Pies are for you.

Nannyberry Butter Pumpkin Pie with Hickory Nut Streusel Topping

Other recipes to consider –

• from a Google Book
• Nannyberry Cake
• Nannyberry Jam and Jelly
• Nannyberry Pudding
• Nannyberry Sauce
• Wild Raisin-stuffed Squash (Substitute Nannyberry fruit)

After the ripened fruit are harvested, keep watch for Nannyberry’s fall colors…gorgeous!

Nannyberry

Happy trails!

Autumn arriving soon

Equinox Tree – half fall colors, half greenery

Autumn arrives in the pre-dawn hours on September 23.

Read about the fall color exhibited by the leaves of New York trees. Read the Guide to Fall Colors in Upstate New York. Read about the science of fall colors. View my presentation, “Fall Colors…from a Different Perspective,” as photos or video.

When will fall colors begin and when will they peak? View The 2019 Fall Foliage Prediction Map.

Track the progress of developing fall colors across New York here.

Leaf peeping opportunities:

• Fall foliage in the Capital Region: 12 best places to see leaves changing color
• Leaf Peeping Opportunities in Saratoga Springs
• Top 5 Spots for Fall Foliage in Albany

Blugold – Ash Trees on October Sky

Outdoor activities to consider:

• Fall Flora at Thacher Park (September 24 @ 9:30am)
• Beach Yoga (September 28 @ 9:30am)
• Evening Explorers (September 28 @ 6:30pm)
• Monarch Butterfly Walk (September 28 @ 11am)
• Birding at Woodlawn Preserve (September 29 @ 8am)
• History Walk (October 1 @ 9:30am) and (October 15 @ 9:30am)
• Field to Fork – Hunter Orientation (October 2 @ 7pm)
• Painting in Nature:  Fall Color (October 3 @ 9am)
• Stewardship Hike (October 4 @ 1pm)
• Bird Walk at Tivoli Lake Preserve (October 5 @ 9am)
• Painting in Nature:  Fall Color (October 5 @ 9am)
• Indian Ladder Trail Guided Walk at Thacher Park (October 5 @ 2pm)
• The Big Sit at Ann Lee Pond (October 12 @ 7:30am)
• Fall Foliage Hike (October 12 @ 11am)
• Fall Fungi at Thacher Nature Center (October 12 @ 10am)
• Moonlight Walk at Thacher Park (October 12 @ 6pm)
• Birding at Five Rivers EEC (October 13 @ 8am)
• Fall Photography Walk (October 13 @ 4:30pm)
• Autumn Walking Tour (October 15 @ 1pm)
• Fox Trot (October 20 @ 1pm)
• Octagon Barn Star Party & Lecture (October 25 @ 7pm)
• Birding at Collins Lake (October 26 @ 8am)
• Sensory Night Hike (October 29 @ 6:30pm)
• Birding at Tomhannock Reservoir (November 2 @ 8:30am)
• Woodland Path Oil Painting Workshop at Thacher Nature Center (November 2 @ 10am)
• Birding at Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve (November 3 @ 8:30am)
• Understanding the Landscape (November 3 @ 1pm)
• Owls and Hors d’oeuvres (November 6 @ 5:30pm)
• Wild and Wiley Turkeys (November 16 @ 11am)

Fruit of Large Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)

Fall crafts to consider:

• 12 Simply Lovely Nature Crafts
• 26 Colorful DIY Fall Leaf Crafts You Must Try this Season
• Fall in Love with These Autumn Crafts from Nature
• Nature Inspired Fall Crafts
• Your Guide to Pressing and Framing Fall Foliage

Autumn-inspired recipes:

• 10 Delicious Autumn Martinis
• 11 Autumn-Inspired Cocktails that Scream Fall
• 15 Amazing Autumn Salad Recipes
• 15 Autumn-Inspired On-The-Go Lunch Recipes (Vegan + GF)
• 15 Must-Try Vegan Fall Recipes
• 17 Delicious Snacks To Make This Fall
• 26 Easy Fall Desserts That Aren’t Just Pumpkin Pie
• 27 Fall Cocktails to Make When It Starts Cooling Down
• 30 Fall Dinner Ideas for When You’re Craving Something Comforting
• 31 Recipes Featuring Fall’s Secret Ingredient: Beer
• 35 Healthy Fall Snacks That Will Make You Grateful Summer’s Over
• 45 Autumnal Cocktails Perfect for the Crisp Days of Fall
• 50 Fabulous Fall Recipes
• 55 Unbelievably Easy Fall Dinner Recipes
• 60 Fall Recipes We’re Looking Forward to Making
• 67 Fall Recipes You’ll Want to Make All Season Long
• Autumn Inspired Appetizers
• Best Autumn Tea Recipes
• Best Fall Recipes
• Fall Recipes
• Favorite Fall Recipes
• Warm Autumn Inspired Drink Recipes
• Your Autumn Vegetable Inspiration File: 40 Recipes for Fall

Happy trails!