First Fruits

The thimbleberries along our driveway are beginning to ripen, so I've started picking. They don't all ripen at once, so it's best to check them at least every other day right now. Steve and I will probably take an afternoon and do some heavy picking along the Garden City Road this week. We noticed a lot of thimbleberry plants along that road in June, so we can probably get a lot of berries in one afternoon that way.

Here's how our thimbleberry plants looked on July 5th.

They were in blossom. Check out a close up.

After the petals die off, the berry begins to form in the center - looking a little odd at first.

The berries remind me of knitted caps.

When they're fully ripe (bright red) like the one on the right side of the next photo, it's time to pick them.

You just gently pull the cap away from the head. The next shot shows you how the head looked after I removed that ripe berry.

I put them in freezer bags in the freezer until the harvest is over.

This was the first picking. . .

and the second picking.

I got about the same amount the third time, and we'll probably be picking for a few weeks - with the greatest number ripening in a week or so.

Then, it will be time for these. . .

and the labels.

All is well in the Keweenaw.