July 18. Location: undisclosed.
A couple of summers ago I got really sick. Nothing life-threatening or serious, but sick enough to stay in bed waiting to feel alive again. A friend arrived with some fresh wineberries, foraged in a location I promised not to disclose. I was sick with no appetite and refused to eat any of the berries. "Please try one," my friend pleaded. I tried one and I swear, that one little berry cured me. Or maybe it was the plateful of berries I ate immediately after my first bite. Or maybe it was just time to get better. All I know is I loved wineberries from that very first taste, and I feel both excitement and gratitude when I see them ripen this time of year. I hope that explains my recent drooling.
I first noticed the berries growing a few weeks ago, covered with what looked like a prickly covering, but the prickles felt soft. I patted them, coo'd over them, wiped away my drool, and promised I would be back.
Today I picked and drew this wineberry, along with an empty husk (I don't know that husk is the right term, but I'm guessing it isn't) where a berry once was. The berries are a rich red and jewel-like. The husks (as I will call them until I figure out the right botantical term) are a wonderful orange. Orange is one of my favorite colors, and the bushes with the red berries and orange husks are mighty attractive. Wineberry plants are brambles and the stems are thorny, but that's okay. The scratches you get from harvesting the berries are worth it, and the wounds don't itch or hurt for long. Or maybe the taste of the wineberries makes you forget all unpleasantries and inconveniences.
A couple of summers ago I got really sick. Nothing life-threatening or serious, but sick enough to stay in bed waiting to feel alive again. A friend arrived with some fresh wineberries, foraged in a location I promised not to disclose. I was sick with no appetite and refused to eat any of the berries. "Please try one," my friend pleaded. I tried one and I swear, that one little berry cured me. Or maybe it was the plateful of berries I ate immediately after my first bite. Or maybe it was just time to get better. All I know is I loved wineberries from that very first taste, and I feel both excitement and gratitude when I see them ripen this time of year. I hope that explains my recent drooling.
I first noticed the berries growing a few weeks ago, covered with what looked like a prickly covering, but the prickles felt soft. I patted them, coo'd over them, wiped away my drool, and promised I would be back.
Today I picked and drew this wineberry, along with an empty husk (I don't know that husk is the right term, but I'm guessing it isn't) where a berry once was. The berries are a rich red and jewel-like. The husks (as I will call them until I figure out the right botantical term) are a wonderful orange. Orange is one of my favorite colors, and the bushes with the red berries and orange husks are mighty attractive. Wineberry plants are brambles and the stems are thorny, but that's okay. The scratches you get from harvesting the berries are worth it, and the wounds don't itch or hurt for long. Or maybe the taste of the wineberries makes you forget all unpleasantries and inconveniences.
I ate wineberries all day today and I have no recollection of any unpleasantries or inconveniences. I'm feeling fine this summer, but I think the berries cure me of ailments I don't even know I had. I believe in them that much.
If you haven't tasted wineberries, they are like rasberries, only stronger, better. July is good.
If you haven't tasted wineberries, they are like rasberries, only stronger, better. July is good.
3 comments:
You've sold me, and I've never heard of wineberries.
I've never heard of wineberries, but they are beautiful, and I loooove raspberries, so I'm sure I would love them too.
A very pretty sketch, and I can imagine the bush with the dark red berries and the orange "husks" would be beautiful!
Mapelba and Addhumorandfaith: Wish I could send you a bushel and a peck.
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