Fall is berry season, but these luscious-looking morsels are the summer fruit of a Barbados cherry (Malpighia glabra L. ). Native to South Texas and points farther south, mine grows just fine with protection from blue northers (a strong, cold north wind). I’ve read that Barbados cherry does not tolerate deep or prolonged freezes, but in 6 years that hasn’t been a problem in my garden. That could also explain my mosquito problem.

Turk’s cap blazes red in the shade of the cedar elm.