Category: Trees,

Rudeneja

Rudeneja ( roo-den-ay-ha) is a Lithuanian word that describes the transition from late summer to early autumn. It comes from ruduo, the Lithuanian word for autumn, and is used as a verb to describe the shift in nature towards fall, or as a noun for the reflective feeling of the season.

Cattails begin to lose their brown spikes, which turn to fluff that contains thousands of seeds.

The chestnut tree displays spiky protective shells.

Sheep roam freely in the meadow.

Yellow berries begin to appear on the bittersweet.

Monarch butterflies gather before they begin their migration.

The swamp maples are among the first trees to change color.

Edible Petals

The Baldwin apple tree in my yard is teeming with blossoms this week. This classic heirloom apple was discovered around 1740 in Massachusetts. It became the most popular and commercially successful variety in New England right up until 1934, when a deep freeze killed millions of the trees, nearly wiping out the variety.

Baldwin blossoms are part of the rose family, and the petals are edible. They are noted for being highly fragrant and sweeter tasting than modern apple varieties. They can be used as a garnish for salads or desserts, in herbal teas, infused in liqueur or even made into apple bossom jelly.