Chokecherry Tree leaves are dropping, which advertises their cherries to the birds. Our variety of this native tree is the Eastern Chokecherry also known as Bitter-Berry and Virginia Bird Cherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana). See also the image in the first Comment space.
This small tree/large bush is called Chokecherry because that’s what you’ll do if you taste the extraordinarily bitter fruit fresh off the tree – “Arghh!” Yet, it was one of the most important foods for Native American tribes. The very nutritious cherries were pitted, dried, and mixed with tallow and dried meat to make pemmican, a staple and hearty food for many Native Americans.
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on November 2, 2021.)