Two of our quick-change artists are at it again. Both are white-flowering spring flora that are changing into their red-berry stages as we speak.
Above, you see Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum). Its red berries will turn shiny black starting in late summer and be swarmed by flocks of birds, while its beautifully-veined leaves will turn burgundy in the fall.
Below, you’ll see Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), the smallest member of the dogwood family. Its clustered (“bunched”) berries are rich in pectin, making them good thickeners for jams and jellies. Its leaves turn brilliant reds and purples in the fall. Strange as it may seem, black bears are among the wildlife that love the tiny berries.
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on July 22, 2026.)