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The serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), also known as shadbush, is known for its flowering in early June and its edible fruits that taste somewhat like a blueberry. The name of this tree is deeply rooted in local history. In winter, when the ground was frozen, people could not dig graves. It wasn’t until late spring, at the time the serviceberry blooms, that the ground would thaw enough to hold funeral services and bury those who had passed away during the cold winter. The name “shadbush” reminds us of the large numbers of shad (Alosa sapidissima) that used to swim up our streams in spring.