Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Firsts and favorites

Life is full of firsts. Some are once-in-a-lifetime firsts, and some are an annual occurrence.

Today, we had the first strawberries of the year from the garden. Last year I put the plants in later than I should have, and the 35 plants gave us maybe a dozen strawberries. This year I have been watching as the plants bloom, and form tiny little green berries that have grown and blushed to a full, beautiful red. Fiona and I ate the first two while Adrian was at school and Aaron was sleeping. They were divine. More flavorful than any store-bought berry, still warm from the sun.

The first strawberries mean that the garden is in full swing. Soon after we'll be able to dine on fresh peas, lettuce, spinach, blueberries, fennel, and later carrots, broccoli, onions, potatoes and beans.

Our pear tree has little pearlets, and if we don't have a drought this summer, the fall will have us up to our elbows in pears.

Two more weekends until the farmer's market opens, and we will dine like royalty on the best foods of the season.

This is what makes summer my favorite.

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