What The Neighbor Told Us

While Dan and I were out calculating the details of planting our hedge, one of the neighbors from across the street ran over and asked us, "Have you found your blueberry?"

Not having a clue as to what he was talking about, we introduced ourselves. He responded with his name and then added, "I was just wondering if you found your blueberry."

"Our blueberry?"

"Yeah. There used to be a bush over there ....... by that sweet gum tree." And he pointed toward a clump of trees in the field where a lot of undergrowth needed to be cut back.

We told him no, we hadn't, and thanked him for letting us know. He also told us where there used to be a row of thornless blackberries along the edge of the field. In talking with him for a little bit, he told us he'd lived there for 40 years and when he was a boy, our house was owned by two retired lady school teachers. He used to go swimming in their swimming pool. Swimming pool? That's right. There used to be an inground swimming pool about where our carport is now.

After we said good bye, we went to hunt out those bushes. I didn't figure any blueberry bush could have survived the years of neglect this place has seen, but when we went to look for it, lo and behold....

Believe it or not, there's a big blueberry bush in there.

After we finished planting the hedge, I set out to liberate that bush from the overgrowth of unwanteds.

I was able to clear out around it to give it better air circulation and sun. There are tons of blueberries on it, just beginning to ripen.

My guess is that these are rabbiteye. This type is common in the southeastern US because they well suited for our acid soils. My bush fits the description too, with the berries having a pink ring on the blossom end, resembling the eye of a rabbit (see little photo at right.) Reminds me of Rudy, the ruby-eyed white angora bunny I used to have. Rabbiteye blueberries are evidently smaller and seedier than other types, and not considered the best quality. Mine aren't the best flavored raw, but they'll be fine for baking.

For my first picking, I was able to get about two quarts.

Some of them weren't ripe enough, but with the robins and mockingbirds fussing at me the entire time I was picking, I kept thinking that if I didn't get them, they would. Even so, there are plenty more so we'll all get a share.

I never did find the thornless blackberries, however. The place our neighbor pointed to was overgrown with a lot of things but no blackberry bushes. I'm not complaining however, because if I had my druthers, it would be for the blueberries hands down.

What The Neighbor Told Us is copyright August 2009 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/