Wildlife in Plainville, CT

This is the first year that I was able to pick wineberries. The birds love them and last year when the bush was first producing the birds ate the berries before they were even ready to pick. This year, because it is such a vigorous grower, there are plenty of berries so we can share with the wildlife.

The berries look like raspberries but have a taste of their own that reminds me of fresh sunshine and a hint of lemon. And sweet. Really sweet. They have a waxy surface so my hands had a coating that needed some extra scrubbing to get clean but they were worth every minute of picking through the thorns and hand  “de-waxing”.

Speaking of wildlife…

At dusk, after I returned from working at the farmers market of Plainville, Xav sounded the alarm, “A bear. By your kiln. A bear. Get the camera.” I was just getting into the shower… not an ideal time to dash out to greet a bear but I made it in time to get some blurry shots. This was a large  (male?) black bear. We have seen them over the years on the property but they are very quiet and elusive. He was eating apples from the old summer apple tree at the edge of our woods. He has a tag in each ear and a tracking collar. He must be a regular in populated areas.