Years ago one of the four clumps of white birch on our lot deteriorated badly, and I cut it down. It seems the white birch was grafted on root stock of some sort of scruffy dark-barked birch. Whatever it is grew up from the roots, and has grown like a weed, as big as the other original white birchs. It's right by, and over, our shed. I just went out to get the lawn tractor out. The thing is totally loaded with red and black berries, the first I've noticed in all the years it's been there.

I can't even remember hearing anyone mention birch berries. Are they fit for human consumption in any way, shape, or fashion? Outright poisonous? Or just another somewhat messy, totally useless (to humans) product of nature?