Corn, berries, and flowers! Oh My!
Scully and I headed up into Maryland early this afternoon to explore some of the great U-Pick farms there. There was actually a farm tour going on throughout the county today, and we intended to hit a couple of places until we exhausted our energy in one awesome place. Here.
I think CC has written about Butler's Farm in one of her posts, but I'll add my cooing praise to the mix. The place is absolutely massive, and has so much to offer it's mind boggling. You could pick everything from blueberries to cherries to blackberries to raspberries (actually those are probably a few weeks away yet) and flowers. Later on, they'll have apples, pumpkins and the like, so you can be sure we'll be back to grab our share of what Mother Nature has to offer.
But we certainly took our harvest to heart today. I walked off with more than a two pounds each of blueberries and blackberries, fresh-cut flowers, sweet corn, new potatoes, sweet onions, miniature eggplants, grape tomatoes, and radishes. Scully also gathered in her bags some mini turban squash (which were adorable).
I was amazed with the size of the berries, especially the blackberries. Growing up in WNY, I thought the blueberries, raspberries and blackberries in the back part of the property were great, but they had nothing on these guys.
The blueberries are each at least as big as the tips of my index fingers, and the blackberries, well, see for yourselves:
They are a little bit tart, but I know those who come picking next weekend or in a few weeks will be in for a sweet treat. Mine will go into a cobbler (this was about 4 cups' worth, not quite enough for a pie).
The trip to the U-pick flower garden was also amazing. And amazingly cheap. You could pick any stem for 50 cents, or a litre-sized cup full for $7. Not bad. I'm beginning to see why savvy,bargain-hunting brides would self-pick their bouquets. I bought a couple of Gerbera daisies, another purple flower I can't identify, and this gorgeous sunflower:
Doesn't it just make you smile? Ah...
I had a radish sandwich for dinner, and made one for Computerguy to take with him to work tonight, along with some of the blueberries and grape tomatoes I brought home.
Man, I love summer for this reason alone: all the fresh fruits and veggies.
Time for some blueberries, I think.
Yes, Butler's Orchard is the place. Don't you love it? I wish I lived closer, our friends live literally 10 minutes from there and go all the time! I wish I'd know you were going, I wanted to get up there this weekend but didn't. Oh well.
Posted by: ccharmony | July 29, 2007 at 05:14 PM
Oh believe me, we'll go again soon. We definately want to pick real ripe blackberries and raspberries (and apples and and...).
My blackberry cobbler turned out divine, I must say!
We might be heading to Tarara Winery this weekend, if you're up for it, actually. Wine festival + blackberries. What's better?
Posted by: Akrinarae | July 30, 2007 at 09:40 AM
uhhhh....a *radish* sandwich?
Posted by: Jeffro | July 30, 2007 at 06:48 PM
Oh, they totally rock! Add a little cheddar and zing! All of you who use mere lettuce are wimps!! ;-)
Posted by: Akrinarae | July 30, 2007 at 08:45 PM
hmmm... So just sliced radish, cheddar, and bread - nothing else? The iron chef in me has become rather obsessed about this now!
Posted by: Jeffro | July 31, 2007 at 08:50 AM
A little light mayo, if you like. And it's best on fresh bread. I grew up with having it on fresh white bread, but fresh wheat works just as well.
Mom and I used to eat the sandwich sans cheese, especially when the radishes were hot! Mmmm.
Posted by: Akrinarae | July 31, 2007 at 08:53 AM
We went to Tarara last year, very cool place! I wish I could go, but I have to work Saturday and have my drum lesson Sunday, so I probably won't have much free time. Blah!
Posted by: ccharmony | August 01, 2007 at 08:04 PM