Mariton: Orange, but not oranges

by Tim Burris, Preserve Manager.  Photos by Carole Mebus.

Persimmon fruit.

On our Tuesday Walk, very few leaves had turned color. Carole’s discerning eye still found color in the landscape.  There aren’t a lot of Persimmon fruits (Diospyros virginiana) this year (even though there are lots of grapes, berries, and other types of fruit).  These orange fruits are a nice contrast now until leaves start changing color.

Crabapples.

These crabapples are colored orange because they are still green (unripe).  This variety ripens pretty late in the fall and provide food for deer, woodpeckers, and lots of other animals.  Fortunately, this tree hasn’t been invasive at Mariton.  Some crabapples are very invasive, and some of the preserves spend a lot of energy and money controlling them.