Kakahead

Summer in Michigan is my very favorite salad dressing.  Say what??  I mean, you just can’t beat it!!  All the yummy stuff is making its way to the Farmer’s Market, and for some pretty reasonable prices you get some absolutely dynamite produce.  On the other hand, you have some fingers I hope, and maybe even a few treats your Mom (Mom Nature that is…) left outside for you, free of charge.  Reminds me of when I’d go on a scavenger mission for just such delights during lunch and bring them back to share with my friends.   Things they’ve never heard of before, much to my amazement.  I’d go out with a little container, and when I get back from the trek, I’d have about a quart of tasty morsels.  My mother always stold me that if you are eating candy or other such treats, it’s very impolite if you don’t share.

So I would.  I’d offer to anyone that passes by with a cheerful, “hey, want some?? Don’t worry, I have plenty.”  Some folks dive right in without hesitation, saying things like, “mmmmm!! Thanks!”  But others look with squinty eyes and say, “ummm no thanks! What are those?”  When I hear such a reaction I secretly shudder inside at the poor soul who has gone way too long without experiencing the joy of free, natural dessert.  Mom (Mother Nature again…) has quite a spread out around this time of year for those who know where to look.  Yummy, yummy berries are coming on strong around these parts of Podunk.  I’m talking about raspberries, folks.  Are there really people who don’t know about raspberries??  I mean, this I cannot believe.

Dunno if berry picking is a lost art or what… but even the folks who are very aware of raspberries are surprised at the variety I bring in from a nice walk.  It’s not unusual to find yellow, black, and of course the traditional red raspberries.  Just because the “black caps” are ready doesn’t mean the blackberries are ripe though… they won’t be coming along until much later this month or early August.  Unless we get no rain, in which case we may only get mummified blackberries.  And those kind don’t taste so good.

On the other hand, in addition to more fingers, you have mulberries.  These are largely ignored by just about everyone I know.  Birds sure do love them though… and they do a great job of spreading the seeds around in their poop.  There are two types around these parts, white mulberries and the dark purple ones.  Seems like the purple ones are much more common, but both are truly delicious snacks.  Plus, they have the added bonus:  NO THORNS!!  Mulberries are grown as a fruit crop all over the world.   Mulberry leaves are also grown as food for silk worms.  The trees were even imported into North America in the early 1700’s with the intent of starting a silk industry.  The mulberry trees have spread far and wide on their own, but the silk industry didn’t do so good.

I’m very OK with people ignoring the mulberries.  That leaves more for ME!!
Now here’s a Berry of a very different sort… one of my favorites too… but this one plays a guitar….