Simple Discoveries
This afternoon I pulled back a layer of leaves I left over the top of my strawberries in the fall. I had noticed earlier in the week that strawberries were the first of the perennials to come back and I didn't want to leave the thick, wet leaves on them long.
I was pleased with how many came back. They were a little clumped in some areas and bare in others so I had to transplant a few.
For years I had avoided berries, thinking they would be harder than annuals. Then I started with what I had been told was the easiest in our area--raspberries. I fell in love. Fresh berries are so good and then to have them come back on their own the next year was such a gift.
I tried blueberries next, but gave up after either rabbits or squirrels devoured the bushes entirely multiple times.
Blackberries have gone well.
I had a vague memory of my parents trying strawberries one year and it not going well. That was enough to keep me from them until all this other berry success.
Last year was my first year getting a good crop of strawberries. It is incredible the depth of flavors in all these fresh berries.
I have grown many vegetables and some seasonings over the years, but the berries have become my favorite. The flavors and the ease astound me. Yet I still find most other gardeners I talk to don't do berries.
It is wonderful how generous God is to us through nature. I had a great afternoon in the sunshine just gently pulling back leaves, pulling baby weeds, seeing the worms, and smiling at each strawberry plant discovered.