Harvest time

The final strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) harvest of Sunday was also the first of our blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum). I have been spying them from a distance looking for when an entire berry rather than just one side becomes blue.

Our birds have been cross with me as their attempts to penetrate the defensive veil encasing each bush are futile. Every morning at least a half dozen warblers, orioles and robins attempt to break into the cage (as well as the individually netted bushes) that covers four berry-laden bushes. So far they have been unsuccessful.

Charlotte and I climb down the steep hill in front of the house to the first set of netted bushes, two of which have ample clusters of ripe berries. Her shortness and nimble fingers are much better adapted to pick these berries, which she does with ease. My tallness and stumpy fingers conspire against quick and easy collections. Neither of us, however, can resist the siren song of first berries as we pop a few into our mouths.

“These are a little sour, Pampi,” says Charlotte no doubt biting into one that is just short of ripeness. I toss her a fat, dark blue sample and she responds with a wide smile and a tiny bit of juice out of the left side of her mouth.

Juana and her sister harvest berries from the lower bushes in the cages where the ground is flat and you can do so erectly without the possibility of tumbling backwards. They harvest a few berries but not as many as Charlotte and I.

Summer has arrived.