Photo of the Day: The Beautiful Service Berry Tree at Aga Khan Park – and, Yes, the Berries Are Edible; Try Them Out!

Service berry tree at Aga Khan Park
A Service Berry tree at Aga Khan Park that had the largest bulk of the fruit as of June 16, 2021, with the Ismaili Jamatkhana dome in the background. Photo: © Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.

By MALIK MERCHANT
(Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)

I hoped to learn something about the fruit bearing trees in front of the Aga Khan Museum, but they are not mentioned on the website of Aga Khan Park. I am told they are service berries and also edible. Actually, I tried the fruit yesterday from a tree that currently has the largest concentration of the red berries, and I am pleased to present the tree as our Photo of the Day feature.

PHOTOS FROM JUNE 16

red berries on a service berry tree at Aga Khan Park Simergphotos.com Simerg
Beautiful! Look at these red berries on a service berry tree at Aga Khan Park. June 16, 2021. Photo: © Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Berries on service berry tree at Aga Khan Park Simergphotos photo of the day
Wow. Close up of a bunch of ripe berries on a service berry tree at Aga Khan Park, June 16, 2021. Photo: © Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.

Generally the red fruit is sweet and juicy, especially the Saskatoon variety but the ones I tried on June 16 had a neutral flavour, more like a mild blueberry. I picked several more on June 17 from numerous trees that had ripened berries and they were juicy and sweet. Several other individuals I met were also surprised at how sweet they were.

I learnt by googling that serviceberry is “an excellent source of manganese, magnesium, and iron, and a relatively good source of calcium, potassium, copper, and carotenoids.” So please come by and try them out — it would always be good to bring some bottled water so that you can wash the fruit before eating it.

A photo of the entire service berry tree at Aga Khan Park bearing the largest concentration of the fruit Aga Khan Park Simerg Photos Photo of the Day
A photo of the entire service berry tree at Aga Khan Park bearing the largest concentration of the fruit, as of June 16, 2021, with the Aga Khan Museum in the background. Photo: © Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.

Well, after I got a little bit of a fill with the berries, I looked up in the sky and to my delight I saw the daylight moon high above the park. It was a waxing crescent illuminated at 37%. A waxing crescent is a phase of the moon after the new moon and just before the first quarter when the illumination of the moon is increasing to 50%.

A waxing crescent moon, illumination 37%, on a perfect sunny afternoon above the Aga Khan Park Simerg Photos
A waxing crescent moon, illumination 37%, on a perfect afternoon above the Aga Khan Park, June 16, 2021. Photo: © Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.

PHOTOS FROM JUNE 17

Photo of the Day, Simerg Photos. Service berries at Aga Khan Park.
A pond at Aga Khan Park reflecting service berry trees a few minutes after sunset on June 17, 2021. There are a total of 48 such trees in front of the main entrance of the Aga Khan Museum within the perimeter area of the 5 ponds. The fruit has peaked in most of the trees and many of the berries are extremely ripe and sweet. Photo: © Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
photo of the Day blazing sky Simerg photos
A blazing sky north west of Aga Khan park a few minutes after sunset on June 17, 2021. Photo: © Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Reflection of the sky on a pond at Aga Khan Park, shortly after sunset on June 17, 2021. Photo of the Day Simergphotos
Reflection of the sky on a pond at Aga Khan Park, a few minutes after sunset on June 17, 2021. Photo: © Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.

Final Word

Hand picked service berries Aga Khan Park Simerg Photo of the Day Malik Merchant
The photographer’s hand picked sweet ripe berries from service berry trees at the Aga Khan Park on June 17, 2021. Photo: © Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.

Date posted: June 17, 2021 (AM)
Last updated: June 17, 2021 (PM)

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Category : Aga Khan Museum, Aga Khan Park, Nature and Space, Photo of the Day
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