Berries, Berries, Berries

Let me begin this post by mentioning that I do not have a green thumb - in fact, both are sadly black. I do love gardening, though, but unfortunately it has never liked me even the least little bit. But I'm determined that this year will be different, and that every plant that comes into contact with me won't immediately shrivel up and expire. Maybe it's the extra determination, or more likely it's the duck water, but everything I've planted this year is so far actually growing.

Case in point, the Rabbiteye blueberry bush in the above picture. Look at it. . . it actually has little blueberries on it! You could have knocked me down with a feather when I first saw them.

There are also tiny little scuplins already starting on the scuppernong vine that my grandfather planted years ago.

They'll grow big and turn a bronze color, and we'll pick them later this year. The above picture is from last year.

The plants growing around the pond that I thought were wild blackberry bushes in March. . . . Well, they are. There are at least two growing on the banks of the pond, and I found one more last week growing at the base of the hillside around the remains of a tree that was toppled by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

It's been a while since my mom or I have canned any preserves, jams, or jellies, but I see lots of practice in our near future. Who knows, maybe we'll even try making scuplin wine this year.