Almost all the fruit seems to have decided to get ripe at once. The blackberries and black raspberries are the only types of fruit which seems to be keeping with their normal ripening schedule. Everything else is a bit early, and all at once.
Strawberries, raspberries, and red currants.
This is the third picking of strawberries and raspberries, with lots more of each type still yet to get ripe. The red currants are just now ready for picking, and this bowl is just from one plant (we have six of them). This is all the red currants I got last year, so we’re delighted! I think I’ll make red currant jelly instead of red currant jam this time around. For now I’ll be freezing these fruits and deal with them later.
The pie cherry tree is so heavy with fruit the branches are bending over. In another day or two at most, those will need to be picked, pitted, and then frozen. Yikes. Last year we harvested 30 pounds of pie cherries. This year looks like it will be easily way more than that, but I don’t want to hazard a guess. It’s too scary.
The gooseberries are ready to be picked, too. Combat berry picking, here we come 🙂
Josta berries are also ready to be picked. At least those don’t have thorns and won’t fight back. This year we will have many pounds of those to deal with. Pretty easy, I’ll just freeze them as we pick them.
The finish color is finally being applied to the exterior of the house, starting with the upstairs. The trim around the windows and eaves upstairs is still pink, but it’s better than it all being pink. Maybe by the end of next week this will be done. Woo hoo!
I have apricots to make apricot butter, and need to go pick up two gallons of wild blueberries which are waiting for us at our favorite fruit stand. That made the most wonderful jam.
I may have more fruit than I know what to do with.