Shrubs  are defined as plants with a woody stem that are usually less than 10 feet (3.2 meters) in height.  The blooms on many of our shrubs turn into berries later in the season. To see just berries, click the link above. The early blooming shrubs such as Indian Plum and Salmonberry play a critical role in the life cycles of some pollinators, and these early harbingers of spring provide a reminder of that the dark and colder days of winter are  passing into Spring and its renewal.  Thickets of shrubs form critical habitat for many bird and animal species, providing both shelter and food. Such thickets often form a transition between open field to forest and bird watchers have long known that such places are excellent bird habitat.