Just Picked

A few years ago I planted strawberries and after 3 or 4 years I decided to tear them out.  Strawberries are notorious for sending their little runners out and about in every direction and it takes a lot of diligence to keep them in line.  They were taking over everything they could get their tenacious little runners into. 

Well, of course, I didn’t quite get them all or berries that had dropped during the season left their teeny-tiny seeds behind and so last year I had several plants return.  And this year many plants returned.  I’ve been rather torn about the whole situation as I love "volunteers" and have a hard time killing them – I mean they are trying so hard to live!  On the other hand my entire tomato garden is covered with strawberry plants and I had to carefully place the tomatoes in open spots – that was a pain. 

But over the last few days I’ve been so glad that I left them.  I really do love picking sweet strawberries right from the plant and popping them into my mouth!  Today I went out and did a thorough picking of everything that was ripe and in the morning I’ll be making strawberry jam.  Okay you little volunteers – you win – or actually I win.  I’m glad they were so tenacious!