In search of the elusive mulberry
Jul. 9th, 2008 06:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
novapsycheI found out via the web that County Park here in AA supposedly had mulberries on its walking path. As I had a doctor's appointment in the general vicinity, I decided to make a pit stop there and do some gathering.
I walked along the gravel trails, then thought that maybe the best bet of getting berries would be on the nature trail. Very soon after I started on that, I nixed that idea.
I wandered. The sun was out, the sky was mostly clear, the birds were singing and insects chirring. It was gorgeous, really, a sight that made me nostalgic for my childhood home. Unfortunately, I'd forgotten my camera in the car.
Most of the berries I encountered were poisonous, though they often tricked me with their red flair. I began to feel ripped off. But at least it was a pleasant day, and I needed the walk anyway.
As I turned to go up a path, around midhike, I turned to find some surprising purple clusters in a tree. Braving the knee-high grass, I waded under the branches, but the mulberries were tiny. Itty bitty. I wondered if the tree had been scavenged before me or if it just didn't get enough water this season. (Considering our downpours in the last month, I doubt it.) After grabbing maybe fifteen mulberries, I set about the path again.
As I wound farther and farther along the trail, I saw more red in my peripheral vision. I looked: definitely berries. However, these didn't look like mulberries. After picking them, I could tell that they definitely were not--the stem did not come with the berry. Also, as I tried to gather them, I noticed that the stems of the bush were prickly, like rose vines. I don't know if these are wild raspberries, but I thought I'd pick the ripe ones and check when I got home. If they ended up being poisonous, I could just throw them away later.
Walked more. Began to wonder exactly when I would get back to the starting point. I had no watch, so I had no idea what time it was or how long I'd been on the trails. The second time I found prickly berries, people passed by me; one piped, "Those berries are ripe." I turned to see a man and a woman walking their bikes. The woman said hi as they went on.
I didn't mind the walk, really, because it was so calming to walk amongst such greenery. White butterflies flittered by, and more than once a blue jay or a cardinal swept right in my path. It was breathtaking.
Finally, I decided to check one of the maps posted and saw that I had several lengths to get back to the parking lot. I decided to go through the flower garden. Wouldn't you know it, there was a mulberry tree there! I felt at last that my time there had been worthwhile. I didn't get nearly as many mulberries as when I went out a few nights ago, but it was pleasurable.
After making it back to the car, I decided that if I were going to make anything with these berries, I'd need to supplement them. I stopped at Kroger on my way home and picked up some blueberries. I think their tartness will contrast well with the sweetness of the mulberries.
I will probably bake tomorrow.
I walked along the gravel trails, then thought that maybe the best bet of getting berries would be on the nature trail. Very soon after I started on that, I nixed that idea.
I wandered. The sun was out, the sky was mostly clear, the birds were singing and insects chirring. It was gorgeous, really, a sight that made me nostalgic for my childhood home. Unfortunately, I'd forgotten my camera in the car.
Most of the berries I encountered were poisonous, though they often tricked me with their red flair. I began to feel ripped off. But at least it was a pleasant day, and I needed the walk anyway.
As I turned to go up a path, around midhike, I turned to find some surprising purple clusters in a tree. Braving the knee-high grass, I waded under the branches, but the mulberries were tiny. Itty bitty. I wondered if the tree had been scavenged before me or if it just didn't get enough water this season. (Considering our downpours in the last month, I doubt it.) After grabbing maybe fifteen mulberries, I set about the path again.
As I wound farther and farther along the trail, I saw more red in my peripheral vision. I looked: definitely berries. However, these didn't look like mulberries. After picking them, I could tell that they definitely were not--the stem did not come with the berry. Also, as I tried to gather them, I noticed that the stems of the bush were prickly, like rose vines. I don't know if these are wild raspberries, but I thought I'd pick the ripe ones and check when I got home. If they ended up being poisonous, I could just throw them away later.
Walked more. Began to wonder exactly when I would get back to the starting point. I had no watch, so I had no idea what time it was or how long I'd been on the trails. The second time I found prickly berries, people passed by me; one piped, "Those berries are ripe." I turned to see a man and a woman walking their bikes. The woman said hi as they went on.
I didn't mind the walk, really, because it was so calming to walk amongst such greenery. White butterflies flittered by, and more than once a blue jay or a cardinal swept right in my path. It was breathtaking.
Finally, I decided to check one of the maps posted and saw that I had several lengths to get back to the parking lot. I decided to go through the flower garden. Wouldn't you know it, there was a mulberry tree there! I felt at last that my time there had been worthwhile. I didn't get nearly as many mulberries as when I went out a few nights ago, but it was pleasurable.
After making it back to the car, I decided that if I were going to make anything with these berries, I'd need to supplement them. I stopped at Kroger on my way home and picked up some blueberries. I think their tartness will contrast well with the sweetness of the mulberries.
I will probably bake tomorrow.