The Wild Cherry Tree

A story from Buddy & Richie’s Field Guide to Plants

It started with their human picking a few ripe wild cherries from the low branches of the tree near the hill.
She offered one each to Buddy and Richie—just a small taste, then another as they liked it so much.

The fruit was tart and juicy, and both boys were enchanted.

Later that week, while walking in the park, Buddy spotted the same kind of tree.
He stood underneath it for a while, sniffing, thinking. Then—using his front paws—he gently leaned up on his human’s legs,
trying to reach. His human laughed. “You’ll climb it at this rate, Bud.”

The tree was on a little hill, so Buddy had an idea. He trotted up the slope behind it, reached higher branches from above,
and managed to pluck a cherry gently into his mouth.

Richie wagged and jumped too, but he’s smaller and the prickles near the base made him hesitate.
Buddy looked at him and said with a soft wuff—his plant hello—before nudging Richie to wait.

“You mustn’t ever eat the leaves or bark,” Buddy told him quietly. “That part’s poisonous. Only the fruit—when our human says it’s safe.”

Richie nodded. “So we always ask?”

“Always,” said Buddy. “Unless it’s a pear you know from home. Then maybe just one jump!”

At home, Buddy sometimes leaps for pears from his own tree—but always with care and after giving a polite wuff.
He’s a forager, yes, but a respectful one.

“Just because we can reach it, doesn’t mean we take it. That’s what makes a good forager.” – Buddy