Sand cherry
Did you know that cherries are in the same genus as plums and peaches? ‘Tis true, and that genus is Prunus, a word you recognize as the source of the prune that is a dried plum. Here you see some flowers of Prunus pumila, known as sand cherry, that I found at Illinois Beach State Park on June 9th.
© 2016 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
nice
menuwisatadieng
October 25, 2016 at 4:53 AM
This was a new plant for me.
Steve Schwartzman
October 25, 2016 at 10:38 PM
They do bear resemblance to the more widely-known fruit tree blossoms, but they remind me just as much of gaura. There’s still a bit of it flowering here in Kansas, and the delicacy of both plants’ flowers is appealing.
shoreacres
October 25, 2016 at 5:58 AM
We entered California today, and everything in the state up to Bakersfield (where we are tonight) was desert. After more than a week in various deserts, I’m strangely out of tune with gauras and plants in the rose family. I’m glad you’re still able to glorify and gaurify up there in Kansas.
Steve Schwartzman
October 25, 2016 at 10:44 PM
We planted a long row of these eight years ago when we first moved here. About half have died, and we finally gave up replacing them. Apparently, sand cherries do not like Oklahoma! But the ones that remain, I do baby along and try to keep alive. They are a beautiful shrub, and they are wildlife friendly!
Littlesundog
October 25, 2016 at 11:23 AM
You must be one of the few readers who know about this plant. Yes, from what I’ve read, I’m afraid Oklahoma is too far south for this species to thrive on its own.
Steve Schwartzman
October 25, 2016 at 11:09 PM
Called Choke Cherry hereabouts and quite widely seen. Don’t look…I haven’t photographed them.
Steve Gingold
October 26, 2016 at 3:53 AM
Maybe you’ll have an incentive to photograph them now. From what I can tell, choke cherry is Prunus virginiana, which probably looks similar to sand cherry.
Steve Schwartzman
October 26, 2016 at 7:11 AM
This is such a striking image Steve. I love how the background looks all grey-lavender and the pink of the flowers pops out.
melissabluefineart
October 26, 2016 at 7:19 AM
Oh, give me those neutral backgrounds! And thanks for identifying this.
Steve Schwartzman
October 26, 2016 at 7:36 AM
My pleasure. Incidentally, I see that Steve G. called this choke cherry, but we have a different cherry we call that here. I’d have to look it up however.
melissabluefineart
October 26, 2016 at 7:55 AM
Yes, from what I can make out, choke cherry is a common name for Prunus virginiana.
Steve Schwartzman
October 26, 2016 at 7:58 AM
Yes, that’s the one.
melissabluefineart
October 26, 2016 at 8:02 AM
Very dainty and pretty
norasphotos4u
October 26, 2016 at 7:53 PM
It was a pleasant plant, one I’d never seen before.
Steve Schwartzman
October 26, 2016 at 8:35 PM
I am sure sand cherry jelly would be delicious.
Gallivanta
October 29, 2016 at 8:17 AM
Here’s a recipe:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/food/food-safety/preserving/fruits/sandcherry-jelly/
Steve Schwartzman
October 29, 2016 at 9:56 AM
Now all I need is the sand cherries.
Gallivanta
October 29, 2016 at 9:47 PM
No sand, but we bought some yummy corn/cherry scones at a shop in Berkeley yesterday.
Steve Schwartzman
October 29, 2016 at 11:04 PM
Delicious.
Gallivanta
October 30, 2016 at 3:45 AM
A delicious combination indeed. I have a feeling Eve will try to recreate it after we return to Austin.
Steve Schwartzman
October 30, 2016 at 5:12 AM