The Harvest Is Coming

While I've never worked on a farm, my mother's family was from a long line of fruit farmers in the South Haven area, Kibbie in particular.  I have fond memories of wandering through the orchards during my summers there with my great-grandparents.  I especially loved fresh peaches and would come back sticky wet from picking and eating the sumptuous fruit.  I'm feeling some of those old rhythms now as the harvest approaches.

Cherries will be first and I can see some kinds are really close to being ready.

Others are not.  Or maybe they're a different kind of cherry.  I did notice that many trees weren't yet heavy laden with fruit.   In fact, in the photos that I took of whole trees, the cherries were barely visible.

The Saskatoons will be next up to harvest.  They are on their way to purple.

These berries, drenched in morning dew, will soon be ready for rich jams and berry pies.

The apples will be last.  Some are still so green, they are nearly indistinguishable from the leaves.

Those with the first blush of red remind me of the season yet to come.  And I don't want to think ahead that far.