I love blueberries. Not only are they full of antioxidants, they are just delicious. I like them in yogurt, cereal, just plain, and most definitely in baking. I decided that it made a lot of sense to get my own blueberry bushes so that I could have fresh wonderful blueberries all summer long. I visited my local nursery and purchased early and late blooming varieties that were already fairly well established. I was so excited!
I am lucky that we have an entire guide on blueberries. I read every article to make sure I was prepared. I knew where I wanted to plant them, had tested and prepared my soil, and made sure that my garden hose reached the area (just in case of a dry spell). With a little muscle help from my husband, my blueberry bushes were planted.
That summer I watched as the pollinators floated from bush to bush, so happy with the thought of all of the great recipes I would try. The small buds started and I was in full on planning mode. I am envisioning buckets and buckets of blueberries (well maybe not in the first year but definitely in the years to come). I revisited the blueberry guide on foodgardening.com to make sure there were no signs of pests or diseases.
There were several recipes in the guide that looked super yummy and I couldn’t wait to try them. Including one for blueberry pie fudge that looks so easy to do, sounds delicious, and is perfect for a summer get together.
My first berry ripened and I couldn’t contain my excitement. It was so very delicious and sweet. Now I am starting to get a teensy bit impatient. I just needed one cup. Then I would be on my way to blueberry fudge, or muffins, or so many other wonderful treats.
The next morning I am sitting having my coffee and gazing out the window. I looked over to see my wonderful blueberry bushes, and something was blocking my view. I paused for a moment completely stunned, and then I just had to gasp. It was a BEAR. A very LARGE BEAR was having my blueberries for his morning breakfast.
Now let me tell you, my very first instinct was to run out there and protect my blueberries. After a moment though I came to my senses. That bear was A LOT bigger than I am. So instead, I watched him continue to munch on my morning treats.
Well, the rest of that summer, and every summer since, I am lucky if I get a handful of blueberries. But I have a very happy bear who knows where to look for his breakfast treats, and since he is bigger than me, I let him have them.
