When I was coming up, my father planted a mulberry tree that he transplanted from his childhood home. He strategically placed it in our front yard where it could receive full sun and be supported within optimal growing conditions. This was the first time that I had the opportunity to watch the ways of the mulberry. What I remembered most was the taste of the sweet ripe berry fruit! I also remember how much the birds liked the berries as evidenced by the splatters on the ground from their consumption, digestion, and excretion. All parts of the mulberry tree including the fruit, leaves, bark, twigs, and sap can be consumed.

In Sacramento, I just so happen to share space with a mulberry tree. The tree's highest branches reach over 25 feet where its fruits and leaves feed the birds. The tree’s middle branches feed the squirrels and other creatures lurking in the underbrush. And then it also has branches that literally lean into the yard at the perfect height for an adult human and even a child human. I barely lift my hand to reach out to pluck the fruit. The tree offers its bounty to everyone. The branches reach down effortlessly with their Spring weight. This reminds me of not only the abundance of this nourishment, but also the provision of medicine for multiple folks – the birds, the squirrels, the insects, and the humans that also enjoy the different phases of berry ripening and tree leaf maturity. The mulberry produces and reproduces in ways that reflect interconnectedness and vast - sweet joy! It’s not only about the abundant nourishment but also how the mulberry is tasty, sweet, and smile-inducing. What a beautiful lesson of interconnection, abundance, and wild delight literally at our fingertips!