Berry picking

**low-1** · 08-02-2011, 09:21 PM

Well, after finding the raspberries were starting to ripen up (Raspberry picking), I decided that I would go out looking for blueberries with my little girl tonight.

Our blueberries, like most of our wild berries up here, are quite a bit smaller than the Southern varieties, which means a lot more work, but much more flavor packed into a smaller package. Like the raspberries, the blueberries are JUST starting to ripen up, so we hand-picked only the ripe ones. It also meant that I couldn't use the berry scoop my parents bought me from Lee Valley. Yet. Another week or so.

We were out for about 2 hours, 1/2 hour of which was spent on the quad (4 wheeler) getting to where I've found them in the past. So in about 1 1/2 hour, we were able to fill a margarine tub full of blueberries. My little girl also wanted to pick a few raspberries, as well as the 2 or 3 ripe cranberries we found. Cranberries are the last to ripen up around here, usually after the first frost.

And my beautiful assistant:

So far, she's eaten a bowl full of them. She was trying to convince her Mom to make blueberry scones tomorrow, hopefully she was successful! Likely save a few for pancakes as well. When the full flush happens, it will be jam time again!

**starsapphire** · 08-02-2011, 09:27 PM

Beautiful girl!

**low-1** · 08-02-2011, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by starsapphire

Beautiful girl!

Thank you! She's my little angel.

**low-1** · 08-03-2011, 08:52 AM

Had some delicious blueberry pancakes for breakfast this morning. Yum!

**onencgirl** · 08-03-2011, 09:41 AM

What a cutie you have there! And the berries look awesome too.

**bumplett** · 08-03-2011, 10:59 AM

Super!!

I'm sure it was mentioned in another thread, but I missed it - where did you find the score of berries??

**bumplett** · 08-03-2011, 11:05 AM

ohhhhh nevermind! I just saw the link - GREAT GREAT FIND!!!

**low-1** · 08-03-2011, 11:29 AM

Raspberries, cranberries and wild strawberries grow everywhere up here, as do some less-known wild edibles. Blueberries are much trickier to find. I know of 1 good spot close to town, where I went last night with my little girl. I know a few other people know about it as well, so I'm not saying anything about them ripening up anywhere where local people will see it (pretty sure not too many other people from town are on here) until I get at least one GOOD picking, likely about a week away or so.

There's another really good, really large area that is about an hour drive, then either another 1/2 hour by quad or 1-2 hour hike. If anyone asks in the next week or so, that's where these came from

While out picking the raspberries a couple of days ago, I found some berries that I was completely unfamiliar with. I did the universal edibility test, and after getting to actually taste them, they were very sweet and quite good. After doing a little research, I learned that they were Northern Gooseberries. Found 4 or 5 plants all together, never seen them before up here (or anywhere else for that matter). I think I'll leave them, though, hopefully they'll get really well established.

If the weather, particularly the wind, co-operates, I'm planning on heading out to the cabin sometime this week to get some more raspberries. Our cabin is on an island in the middle of a pretty big lake. The clearing that our cabin sits in is literally filled with raspberries and cranberries. The raspberries will be ready by now, I'm sure.

Have to really stock up on labrador tea now, too.

I love this time of year.

**Debbie-cat** · 08-04-2011, 11:10 PM

Awww, she is a sweetie and the berries look yummy!

**khaski** · 08-07-2011, 09:09 AM

It's blackberry season here, our yard is edged with wild blackberries, we're out picking every day!

**NicJean** · 08-14-2011, 10:03 PM

She's such a cutie!

Just had to mention each time I've gone kayaking, and/or geocaching, for that matter, lately, I return with handfuls of berries - gotta love summer!