Dave's Garden - Gardening Community
Sponsored Links: Winter Landscaping - Lawn Care Tips - Mail Order Plants - Flowering Bulbs - Landscape Design - Plant Nurseries

Blueberries!!!

  Welcome!  
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!

Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.

  Login  
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.

Username:

Password:

By Lee Anne Stark (threegardeners)
July 26, 2009

Whether you prefer the hard to find and highly coveted wild ones, or the bigger, juicier cultivated ones, Blueberries are a tasty healthy treat that deserve more attention than they get.

Gardening picture

(Editor's note:  This article was originally published on March 11, 2008; it is re-run in honor of our blueberry week-long series.)

As a child, I can remember my Grandparents piling me in the car, suitably dressed in berry picking gear, and driving miles over heavily canopied dirt roads to their wild Blueberry patch. I was allowed to go only if I swore to keep the destination top secret. No problem there, I was too busy dreaming of all of the juicy, ripe fruit I would stuff into my mouth to pay any attention to where we were going. I regretted this later in life, when, after my Grandparents had passed away, Dad asked me where that patch of Blueberries of theirs was and I had no idea. Dad even drove me up and down the dirt roads in the area around where they lived in the hopes that something, anything, would jog my memory. It was not to be, we never could find that patch.

Once we reached our destination we would climb out of the car, gather the pails, buckets, insect repellent and picnic basket. Grampa would grab his cane, Grandma would adjust her hat. Then we set off on a mile long journey through the woods. At my young age I could almost hear the bears chuffing their displeasure at our foray into their territory. I Imagedidn't dare stray from my Grandparents side. After what seemed like forever, we arrived at a nice sized clearing just blue with berries. Berries as far as the eye could see!!

Native to only North America, the blueberry is a shrub. Lowbush or highbush refers to shrub size. The highbush, which is also the most common cultivated variety, are easier to pick standing up but the lowbush are more fun since you can park yourself comfortably right on the ground amongst them and pick as far as you can reach. Those were the ones we picked those summer days, my Grandparents and I. My "suitable attire" consisted of my oldest, torn pants and shirt, a bug hat and shoes. Everything on me would inevitably become stained a bright indigo. Be warned, Blueberry picking can become messy. The peak of Blueberry season is in July, so be sure to take along lots of bug spray.

Blueberries are classed as one of the "super fruits". They have in their makeup the needed ingredients to help reduce the risks of diseases, including some cancers. Research is showing Blueberries may reduce cholesterol, help prevent urinary tract infections. These are one healthy berry!!.Image

Blueberries are also a very tasty berry. Grandma would use them fresh, or frozen, in muffins, pies, jams, jellies and my personal favourite, the Blueberry pancake. Dripping with real Maple Syrup, butter and maybe even a scoop of ice cream...sigh...ok, maybe not so healthy, but definitely yummy!! Toss a handful on your cereal in the morning, on yoghurt, even a bowl of berries with cream.

My Grandparents left me with many Blueberry memories, and although their prized wild Blueberry patch was lost to us, Dad and I always stopped along the highway at one of the many Blueberry stands and bought a basket to nibble in the truck, each of us quietly nibbling away, lost in our own memories.

Blueberry recipes, More Blueberry Recipes,

 

My thanks go out to claypa, Farmerdill and poppysue for their wonderful photos..

 


  About Lee Anne Stark  
Lee Anne StarkI am an avid gardener who shares my gardens with 2 other equally avid gardeners. I garden for fun and relaxation, never paying attention to the rules!! During the long, cold winter months I occupy my time playing with over a hundred house plants, my six cats and two dogs.

  Helpful links  
[ Mail this article | Print this article ]

» Read articles about: Fruits And Berries, Recipes, Blueberries, Antioxidants

» Read more articles written by Lee Anne Stark

« Check out our past articles!

Discussion about this article:
SubjectTopic StarterRepliesViewsLast Post
Picking from the rowboat! scottsmom 1 5 Aug 5, 2009 3:44 PM
Blueberries in South Texas zone 9? tw48 3 12 Aug 3, 2009 10:42 AM
Blueberries patriciahunt 4 58 Jul 29, 2009 12:40 PM
Blueberries in Florida dan41653 0 23 Oct 26, 2008 10:27 AM
blueberry diseases emjean 2 26 Aug 2, 2008 8:50 PM
Blueberries in Containers cavertucc 1 56 May 8, 2008 12:04 PM
Fertilizing blueberries Daisy142 2 74 May 6, 2008 10:36 PM
Blueberries are also found in Iceland. kittysue 0 18 Mar 20, 2008 10:46 AM
Luv 'em!! darius 8 81 Mar 12, 2008 9:25 AM
You cannot post until you login.


We recommend Firefox
Overwhelmed? There's a lot to see here. Try starting at our homepage.

[ Home | About | Advertise | Mission | Acceptable Use Policy | Tour | Privacy Policy | Contact Us ]

Back to the top

Copyright © 2000-2009 Dave's Garden. All Rights Reserved.
 

NameMedia Home and Gardens
Share on FacebookShare on Stumbleupon

Hope for America