Bounty

 The wild choke cherry trees are now heavy with fruit.  These bitter berries make up into a fabulous jelly, for those who are of a domestic bent.







But they also provide a much welcome source of food for a lot of our neighbours.    Down at the lake, near Clover cottage, this tree is bowing down over the lake.

As cherries drop, the ducks come by to forage and do the cleaning up.  They have to wait for the fruit to fall -- or be shaken a bit.

 Not so for the juvenile robins, who were crowding the branches, snapping up a veritable feast.



We watched these beauties grow, from their nests in the stable, and in various trees and porches all around the resort (including one over the electrical panel at Springside cottage that meant we had to suspend some of our planned Spring renovations until the birds flew!)






The big pileated woodpeckers love these cherries as well.   This isn't my photo -- credit to my cousin Robin Tapley.  We are hearing them daily in the big tree near Wheelhouse cottage, and catching glimpses of them as they fly back and forth.  

The big vegetable garden is alive with birds now as well, some who are tackling the last small cobs of corn left on the stalks, more devouring the sunflowers we grow just for them. And some, a little less welcome, snacking on the raspberries that are still ripening!

It makes for wonderful bird watching opportunities!