Our cherry tree is the second one we've had; only 4 years old. The first one died after a year and we were a bit worried about the current one last summer as it had a bad bug infestation which my mom and I treated with soap and water. Two of the branches are dead and need to be removed. Last year we had a total of FOUR cherries. But this year: BUMPER CROP! We had to put blue net up and everything and the crows and jackdaws and magpies made concerted efforts to tease out the dangling rubies through the holes to no avail. When we left for the Netherlands last week, we had glowing golden-pink earrings hanging clustered along each branch...this weekend they are a rich crimson red and sweeter than sweet.

In addition, Martin has 4 gigantic raspberries so far, Karin has 2 small clusters of blueberries coming along, and there are wild strawberries ripening as well. Our kohlrabi was nibbled right down to the roots by something, and the 3 artichoke plants, while leafing up quite prettily, probably won't amount to anything. But the snap peas! O! SNAP! I'll have at least a good salad bowl full in another week or so.













When I sound the fairy call, gather here in silent meeting,
Chin to knee on the orchard wall, cooled with dew and cherries eating.
Merry, merry, take a cherry, mine are sounder, mine are rounder,
Mine are sweeter for the eater, when the dews fall, and you'll be fairies all.
—Emily Dickinson