Another lavender view

Graysmarsh Farm offers a little of everything that grows well here. Near the entrance is a rolling hill covered with lavender. The plants in the foreground have been partially or fully harvested by visitors and Graysmarsh workers for lavender products the farm markets. I wish there were scratch and sniff computer screens because the scent is wonderful now.

Sunflowers and farm scenes

There’s a small field of pretty, varied sunflowers at Graysmarsh Farm behind a farm stand where pickers can pay for their harvests. The farm also offers pre-picked seasonal produce, including their berries, and a selection of their delicious preserves.

Here’s a view of some of the berry operations from the sunflower field. The berry bush locations are rotated from year to year. The flat field in the middle ground may have been the location of this year’s strawberries. In the far distance on the right is the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Tomorrow I’ll give you a view of what’s to the right of this photo.

How the pros do it

I saw this contraption the other day while I was at Graysmarsh Farms picking berries. I had no idea what it was until my friend asked if I’d ever seen the berry picker in operation. Nope.

In the middle of the machine are twirling rows of poles that brush along rows of berries. Ripe ones easily drop from bushes and the poles coax them into conveyors. The two big vents at the top of the back of the machine blow out excess leaves or twigs. The conveyors rotate the berries up onto the sides of the machine where workers catch them in plastic berry bins and pick out any unnecessary bits. I thought it was pretty interesting. If you don’t…well, just humor me, ok?

Berry season

Berry season is one of the rewards for a long winter in the Pacific Northwest. Some berries grow wild here but if I’m ready to do some serious picking I go to Graysmarsh Farm, a U-Pick operation that offers a variety of beautiful, cultivated berries for a fraction of the cost of store bought. This is a blackberry. It’s easily more than double the size of those found on wild bushes.

I picked a couple of pounds of blackberries and raspberries this week and was happy with my harvest. But I think the peak of the season is still to come. Some blackberries, above, still have blossoms and ripe berries are surrounded by ones that should be perfect later this month. I may make a return visit. It’s such a summery sort of thing to do.

Theme Day: Black

Today’s City Daily Photo Theme Day color is “Black.” This is our black Labrador Retriever, Chord, and, for me, it’s a sad post. We had to say goodbye to Chord last month and we’re still gingerly touching the edges of the painful void he left behind.

Part family, part ambassador of the animal world, he seamlessly fit himself into our life for 13 years. He was smart enough to understand what we wanted and smarter still to teach us what he wanted. He left behind the very best memories. We couldn’t have asked for a better companion.

Click here to see other posts for today’s theme.