Our berry crops get better and better each year. Some say that carnivore fertilizer is not the best to use but my plants certainly don't think so!We have our usual dog poop piles, making new ones every season to spread them out, and each place I dump the buckets the plant life goes crazy!
In the summer when the dogs dig I dump the buckets in focusing on the holes they make in between the roots of our mighty spruce trees first. I believe this is what has sustained them in the eight years we've lived here and has allowed us to carve out a tiny bit of heaven in the dog yard. Every year they look stronger and healthier with the only loss to those who are in the heavy traffic areas and are most likely suffering from compaction of the soil rather than poor nutrients.
Now I'm not a green thumb in any way, but I retain knowledge over time very well and from the little bit Ive learned here and there Ive collected into a wonderful store of information.My main concern in summer is to make sure the dogs are shaded through the intense heat and sun but with so much plant life around its been really easy.
Ive been sneaking away for hours at night and picking in our berry patches and Ive found our usual crop of blueberries to be quite healthy and some so very fat. So far, with my friend Nita's help, we pulled just over 5lbs with a few more still waiting to ripen. Not bad for a backyard patch!
And now the raspberries are coming in strong and Ive already gotten about a half pound of those. I found a monster bush out back that I cant believe Ive missed all these years that I'm anxious to see flower and fruit. And there are the usual bushes around, within the perimeter fence of the dog yard, that we were able to pick from last night.Unfortunately my dogs are great at observation and our pups (now almost two years old) are quick to learn what I'm after. Of course I'm not completely innocent in that I love to share everything I have, especially if it tastes good, and in doing so Ive created blueberry and cranberry monsters!
I will be lucky to take the full crop for myself but Im focusing on being happy taking fruit from the upper vines while the dogs seek out the lower ones.
And there is always the acreage out beyond the fence that is only picked by myself, Ajax and usually only one other dog who likes to stay close. Griffin was out there last time with me and makes himself a quiet little pest getting in between myself and the bush I'm interested in insisting that I pick some blueberries (his favorite) for him before putting any in my bucket. His sisters, Ursa and Iris, were much the same way.Being out there with him brings back so many memories. The girls are gone now but I still have my dear, dear boy to remind me of them and the endless times we've shared.
I did manage to get the camera out last night and took many neat summer shots. Those I will share with you here and over the course of the next few weeks as my schedule is still tight and taking the time to write here has been tough.
Enjoy these first few photos and this darling video below of Ajax and I checking out the second growth of blueberries just ready to be picked...
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