Re: mulberry trees & thrushes

Kathy Klimkiewicz (Kathy_Klimkiewicz@usgs.gov)
Thu, 28 May 1998 14:07:52 -0600 

     Mulberry trees are like weeds! I have a female mulberry (very large) 
     in my backyard. The berries kill the grass and most anything else 
     under the branches. The birds drop seeds everywhere and the saplings 
     are almost impossible to kill -- most people want to get rid of them 
     because of the mess. Sexes are separate (diecious?) so you need at 
     least one male tree in proximity to the female to get berries. I don't 
     know if you can just plant the berries. If you can dig up some 
     seedlings, you could replant them as they seem to be indestructable. 
     Good luck!
     
     Cheers,
     Kathy Klimkiewicz


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: mulberry trees & thrushes
Author:  mdosprey@ARI.Net at NBS-Internet-Gateway
Date:    5/28/98 1:16 PM


ospreyers,
     
on a recent visit to Rock Creek Park, I couldn't help noticing the 
concentrations of thrushes, mostly veerys (veeries?), devouring ripe 
mulberries. Thus inspired (and not being a native of this area), I went 
over to my local nursery and asked if I could buy a mulberry seedling. 
they laughed and told me that they didn't sell "weeds," suggesting that 
sooner or later one would start growing on its own. 
     
any thrush or mulberry lovers (the thrushes have good taste --- I tasted 
some berries -- delicious!) have any suggestions?  do other migrating 
passerines like mulberries?  can I just pick a few berries and throw them 
in some water to germinate?  how long does it take to grow a 
thrush-attracting-sized mulberry bush from seed? 
     
thanks for your advice.
     
Robert Weiner (rweiner@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu) 
George Washington University
Washington DC 20052
202 994 5981