Little Berries. Big Deal.

RED RASPBERRIES were a happy part of my childhood. They grew wild, or at least uncultivated, behind our garage. I must have been about 7 years old when I'd go out in the morning and pick some to brighten my bowl of cereal. The berries were both treat and treasure, made even better because I found and gathered them myself! They have been special to me ever since.

We have wild (or at least uncultivated) red raspberries on our property. They are at the edge of our little meadow, where our little woods begin. They have not produced a viable berry for all the time we have been here...going on fifteen years.

I have supposed that the plants are all one sex, with pollination problems.

Last evening, just after sundown, I was watching the dogs root for field mice near the stringy, prickly raspberry plants. That was when I saw our first berries. They were at the very ends of the long canes. I picked them in the fading light, chuckling like a proud little farmer who was enjoying a successful experiment.

The berries are undoubtedly the result of our planting three domestic plants about ten feet from the wild plants this spring. Our new plants must have provided the missing pollination piece, as we had hoped.

I leave you with a light heart and positive expectations. This year's slight harvest is just the beginning of future bounty. Goody, goody, goody.