June’s Jam Scented Air

Seriously, it was as if walking through a jar of berry jam yesterday.  What started as a stormy morning turned clear and bright and I decided a walk with my canine companion in the beautiful vineyards was in order.

Carrying an umbrella as a talisman to ward off any further possibility of rain, Clover and I set out on our daily journey.  Every where we looked the landscape was dotted red with ripening fruit.  I know the atmosphere was heightened by the water droplets still in the air, but it was spectacular.

Around each corner I found something amazing.  Hearing voices but seeing no one, I walked up a row of grapes to take a closer look.  High in an already heavily burdened cherry tree, like monkies, were 3 men in their 70′s joyfully, picking and chatting and most definitely eating this years abundant fruit.

I called out to them if it were OK for me to take a few photos of them.  Out of the foliage popped one friendly face with an affirmative reply.  We chatted a while about last years devastating fruit crop and how Mother Nature was repaying us for our patience.  Because of a late frost the bees never came out of the hives in time to pollinate and many trees went with out fruit…that meant expensive prices and many empty bowls.   He gave me a few good tips about where to walk deep in the Odenwald National forest which is just up the road.

With a laugh  and a few warm berries in my hand we wandered on…carried along by the scent of ripening berries warmed by the days sun.  It may take a few days for the stains to leave my hands and I hope the memories of these days stay with me forever.