Why Are Raspberries Such Good Friends With Strawberries? They Jam Together
It was rather disconcerting to see the hazy orange sunset on Saturday. A sure indication of smoke in the air and of course this was due to the large forest fire near Boston Bar. This was fanned into a much larger out of control fire that has a number of people on evacuation or on alert. This wind is quite disconcerting, many I have talked to can’t remember wind events such as we have been experiencing in a very long time.
That with the lack of rain even though some was forecast makes for some stressful times. Hot weather is expected over this next week, although we have experienced much warmer July weather this heat will dry things out and if this wind continues it will become very dry and dangerous.
A new trend which is quite disturbing was revealed on the news a couple of weeks ago. People who do not want to go camping and not have their bonfires are going further into the wild so as they think they can get away with having their fire. These actions have caused some fires that up till now have been able to be extinguished. This new fire near Boston Bar is believed to be man made. Too bad there is no way to screen people before they are allowed to go into the forest areas to camp. Obviously these people who would take such risks are people who’s ancestors never walked upright.
What they should do is go down to the US of A where their illustrious leader would welcome them with open arms as he wrote the book on the rules do not apply to me and I can do what I want with no repercussions for his actions. Hell, he’d probably give them a key to a city.
Everything in the garden is doing quite well and although some things like Peppers, Watermelon and Cantaloupe like it warmer it is what it is, only time will tell how well the harvest will be this year. The Raspberries are doing fantastic and I can’t remember them having been this big or this prolific or any sweeter than they are this year.
As I usually say A Flock of Geese, a Murder of Crows and a Plague of Raspberries. I have been picking like crazy and there is still lots more to come. I like to freeze my raspberries on trays, once frozen I will put them into freezer bags for later consumption and some Raspberry Jam, my favourite. People are telling me that the wild berries are prolific as well and many are out picking them. Keep your eyes out for wild animals like Bears as they love them too and will be out indulging themselves.
When picking your Raspberries start at the bottom of the plant and work up also pick on the outside of the bushes to the inside. This will prevent loss due to their delicate condition and delicate hold on the stem. Once knocked to the ground trying to pick them up is fruitless (no pun intended) as they generally mashed and will pick up dirt and grass from the ground. Raspberries are not washed until you give them a light rinse before eating so cleaning them up is near impossible.
Happy Gardening!
Samantha Nason
BS Ranch & Greenhouses
250 547 6567
sam1nason@gmail.com
