Picking Blueberries

I love being a country girl; I could not imagine living in the city surrounded by buildings or living in some subdivision where my neighbour is only an arm's distance away from me. My gardens are surrounded by trees and in the morning the air is full of the sounds of the birds as they announce their territories. It is quiet enough that I can hear the hummingbirds long before I see them.

The Back Garden Blueberries

In the back garden are several blueberry bushes. We planted two different varieties; however, it has been some time now and I can not remember the names. One reason for planting two different varieties is they bear at different times. One of the varieties has not done as well and I have lost one of them to the droughts we have experienced the past several years. A couple seem to refuse to grow; however, I am hoping with a little love and care I can get them to flourish. I relocated the bushes several years ago and they have done much better in their new location.

While I was working in the veggie garden I noticed there were enough ripe blueberries for picking. There is no shortage of birds around the gardens so if I don't keep on top of the ripening berries, the birds will have their feast. One year I looked out the window and noticed a strange animal appeared to be sitting in my blueberry bush. When it moved I noticed it was the head of a deer that was eating the berries. I ran outside shouting at it and it dash off through the trees. It was hot in the sun today so I waited until the shade finally moved to the blueberry bushes, I retrieved a pot from the kitchen and went to picking blueberries. I place the pot on the ground and pick with both hands, using my fingers to roll the berries into the palm of my hand. When my hands are full, I transfer the berries to the pot. I am quite fast at picking blueberries and I soon had the ripe berries picked. There are still plenty of green ones so tomorrow I will put down some fertiliser and give the bushes a good soaking