strawberry picking

My husband and I tried growing strawberries once.  We were newly married, idealistic, and thought that we could grow anything, anywhere.  We did manage to grow a few strawberry plants (I can't remember getting any berries off of them, though), but we also grew lots and lots of weeds.  The weeds eventually took over the strawberries, and we mowed everything off in disgust.

I am now ready to try again, now that I know more about gardening in this particular spot, but I am late.  No strawberry plants to be had these days at the local nursery.  So it is on the gardening agenda for next year.  In the meantime, there is a wonderful fruit farm down the road that allows U-picking.  We called up Mom Mom (Grandma) one morning and met her at the strawberry patch.  This was the first year my son was interested in helping (last time we went, he brought a lawn chair, a drink and a snack and sat in the shade and watched us pick).

 (last time)

 (this time.  P.S. - Can I just say, I love seeing my photography skills slowly improve over the years?  Maybe when I am 80 I will know what I'm doing.  But then I won't be able to see, my eyes will be too old.  Rats.)

It was so much fun to watch him get excited about picking bright red berries and filling up his basket ("look at this one, Mom!  Look how full my basket is!").  Love that.

(I chopped Mom Mom's head off.  Sorry, Mom Mom)

In the evening, we pulled out a pint of strawberries and had pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream.  Oh, yum!  I love strawberry season.  And so does my son - he says we should go strawberry picking again.  :)