Here you see one of our native common shadblows, which are blossoming and leafing-out now here. These small trees and bushes also are known as common serviceberry plants in New England, among other less-used names for the various species within the genus.
The plants’ most common names come with interesting histories relating to their earliest descriptions. They’re thought to have been named “shadblows” many years ago because their flowers tend to bloom (“blow”) when American shad (fish) are ascending rivers to spawn new lives.
They’re also thought to have been called “serviceberry” trees or bushes by the first European settlers of New England. These were hardy people, but they usually found it too difficult to dig graves in the frozen ground for those who died in the winter. They reportedly held the postponed funeral “services” and burials for those deceased people when these plants bloomed and/or their berries started to form. That meant that the ground was thoroughly thawed. (Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on May 19, 2025.)