August 25
Harvest Time
I have always felt that picking berries is one of the things I should do. In Norway we picked Blueberries. Cranberries, Raspberries and Cloud-berries. In our garden we had Josterberries, and when we had enough berries we gathered mushrooms. In Alberta we picked Chock-berries, Saskatoon, Raspberries and Blueberries. But there is one sort berries I only remember from my youth: Blackberries. And that was long before some techno-guy chose that name for a phone gadget. (Why? I never understood!) Blackberries demand a long and warm summer and that's what they get here on Campobello Island. And today I filled the very first dessert bowl with them. Wisely I had purchased whipping cream and that was our dessert today. DELICIOUS!!
Of all berries Blackberry picking is the most demanding though, as their vines have many, many sharp thorns which are always trying to keep you where you are by hooking into your clothes. And if you try to pull out they scratch you until blood's running. I always find my oldest clothes and boots and have a stick to defend myself with. And yet, picking blackberries is very rewarding. Being out in nature, harvesting what nature offers, is something which I feel is rooted deeply in my mind. I could never by-pass a fully set blackberry patch without starting to pick.
Blackberries are our favourite and it's just about time to get out there and start picking them.
ReplyDeleteBlackberries are my favourite too, but they do defend their fruit vigorously.
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