A tree that produces berries

The red mulberry is a native tree common in Southeast Missouri. It can grow to about 50 feet tall. It generally is a "geographical fringe tree," meaning that it grows and produces fruit best in places such as the edges of fields and along fence rows.

The red mulberry is a good choice for your back yard or wildlife food plot. Its low-hanging limbs will attract whitetail deer in spring when new bud growth begins. In late May through early June, the berries will turn from green to red to purple as they ripen. The ripe fruit is very sweet and will attract a multitude of songbirds and possibly squirrels.

Mulberry fruit is safe to eat and makes wonderful jelly or sweet wine. My photo here shows where deer have nibbled off the tender new growth limbs while leaving the green berries. I picked one and tasted it. It was quite bitter. I reasoned that apparently deer and humans have similar taste-buds, although I did not bother to taste a tender green limb.

Through the Woods is a weekly nature column by Aaron Horrell. Find this column at semissourian.com to order a reprint of the photo. Find more of Horrell's work at the Painted Wren Gallery in downtown Cape Girardeau.