Friday, August 5, 2011

A Summer Tradition

There is a different pace in Summer.
Different traditions.
Picking berries is one of mine
and the rewards are so worth it.


The view from the berry patch.
Mt. Hood is in the distance.
This day we were picking marionberries,
a berry particularly unique to the Pacific Northwest.

For an Old Woman Picking Wild Blackberries       by Ethel Romig Fuller

There always will be clusters left
Where someone first has been-
What if the children did pick here?
They broke the bushes in.

Take your time, old woman,
It is youth that hurries
To the next alluring patch;
Youth takes the easy berries.

The hidden fruit, the luscious fruit
Waits for one who lingers;
For one with peering, patient eyes,
With slow, exploring fingers.

And ripening on berry vines
Is always something too
No child will be discovering
Till he is old as you.

13 comments:

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

I don't think I've ever seen such big strawberry bushes! Are the berries real big as well? I can't eat berries anymore :-(

Katherine

Chris Graham said...

The poem applies to life also. As I age I am taking more in by taking the time to see, explore, and experience. Thank you.
Picking berries is one of my favorite things to do as a would put a few in the bucket then a few for the mouth!

Steph said...

Oh my goodness! My grandmother (the one who gave me the china you saw) was a blackberry picker, even tho she'd get the worst case of chiggers known to humankind! This reminds me of her so much. Thank you.

GardenOfDaisies said...

This makes me homesick for the northwest. Everywhere you turn there are berries. YUMMY!!!

Traveling Bells said...

I love me some fresh berries, yessiree!

Kathy Walker said...

I love fresh berries! They are so delicious and worth every minute it takes to pick them!
What a great tradition.

krys kirkpatrick said...

Truly the best part of summer....berries. I have eaten so many I am surprised I don't look like a blueberry!

Cathy at Wives with Knives said...

There are some wonderful wild growing berry patches around that are always loaded with fruit. It's very smart to let others make the little paths to the inside berries. "Youth takes the easy berries" is so true. Nice post, Marilyn.

somepinkflowers said...

aahh...
every time i pick blueberries
i get tummy*sick...


:-0

wonder
why!

:-)

love the photos, BTW...

Joy Graham said...

Love this post!-Joy

koralee said...

We love picking berries too my friend...I just noticed up the lane from out home are ooooodles of blackberry bushes...can't wait to pick a bucket or two. Hugs.

Angela McRae said...

Berry picking is definitely one of summer's greatest pleasures! Before I got married and bought a house, I rented a small house out in the country from some amazing landlords who let me pick blackberries on their property. Nothing can beat a freshly picked berry, popped into the mouth straight off the bush!

Mary said...

I've missed picking this Summer - was away in the UK when local strawberries were ready, and then this dastardly hot weather arrived (and hasn't left yet) so being outside has been awful. I did get to try marionberry pie in CA though - delish!!!!!!

Love the view of Mt. Hood - still lots of snow I see.

Hugs - Mary