Marionberry Thumbs

Big black "thumb"

I always pick the "thumbs" first. They see to it.  They are always the first ones to get ripe.

It's marionberry time of year. Just as the raspberries start to wain, right around the Fourth of July, you can count on green nubbins expanding and turning red, and small red berries growing FAT and plump and black.  Always the first berry to ripen at the end of baring stem of about six or seven fruits is the short one in the middle.  Always.

Ready to pick

Naming the short berry digit "thumb" was one of the Things I get to do today while picking berries.  After the thumb is picked, the other berries ripen quickly, though I'm sure it has nothing to do with the removal of the fruit.

Green nubbins turning red, then turning black

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to make a cobbler like I promised a few months back in "Buzzing Berries." Stop by for dessert if you're in the area tonight.

Now You See Them, Now You Don't

Can't blame the birds really.  The cherries certainly look like the best fruit around.  I wondered if they were ripe enough.  Well, the birds spent no time in pondering that question.  They just dove right in,  big beaks and empty bellies.  Just minutes after this picture was taken, the cherries were gone.

Here's the full story.  The birds took a peck or two.  I knew they'd be back from more, so I hustled in and ate all the ones with peck holes in them.  We had a little race, the birds and I.  My besting them was front and center of the Things I get to do today.  The birds tested the ripeness.  I finished off whatever they said was ready.  There were six cherries on this branch.  That's this year's harvest.  Next year I'll have bird netting or a cat draped in the crotch of the tree.

Lapins.  Irresistible, indeed!