At Halloween last year, the tiniest little girl dressed as one of the Folk came to my door. There's an increasingly magnificent native beautyberry to one side of my stoop, with its marvelous electric purple berries served up in great tumbles, and she was transfixed by it. She got her candy, I complimented her costume, she started down the stairs, and then stopped, and turned back around.
Her: "Are those for-eating berries?"
Me: "Oh, you are so smart and clever for asking first! That is such a good idea, I'm so impressed! These are Callicarpa, called beautyberry, and they are edible. Usually they are for cooking, though, to make syrup or jam, and they're not very nice right off the bush. But they are a food berry, and you're so smart to ask!"
Her: "Can I...try one?"
Me: "If your mother says you may."
Her mother, from the walk: "Are you SURE, like, 100% sure. That those are food."
Me: "A hundred percent sure, ma'am. I could show you a couple of websites on them, if you want."
The Girl: *waits for her mother's nod, then gently reaches out and takes three very small berries and puts them into her mouth*
The Girl: *makes an inquisitive face as she chews, walking down the path toward her mother*
Me, turning back inside: "Husband, you should have seen this very smart little girl just now!"
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