05/20/2022
Hutton House student Nancy Fadem authored this first-account essay that is appearing on Newsday.com
My Turn: The Promise of Blueberries Puts Spring in my Step
By Nancy Fadem
Spring is my favorite time of the year. The weather should be balmy, the sun brighter and shining for longer days, and the cold, wintry weather should be behind us.
After a long period of waiting this year, I had begun to grow impatient for spring to finally show its face. It was April, and we were suffering with unusually cold temperatures, blustery winds and snow.
A long time ago, my family planted a row of blueberry bushes. They were situated along the side of my house under the windows so we could watch as the plants came to life. Over the years, we could watch the coming of spring as the bushes transformed from brown sticks to carriers of budding leaves and tiny pink buds, which then, miraculously, became a profusion of blueberries.
This year I was anxious for spring to come. I was tired of the cold weather and looked forward to seeing the new growth on the branches signifying the coming of blueberries galore. I peered out the windows every day to see hints of what had always come in the spring.
This year, as April was about to turn into May, it looked as though perhaps the bushes had just grown old. There was no hint of leaves or buds, just dry bare branches. We had so much harsh weather this spring, even after the calendar said, “Spring is here!”, that I wondered, after so many years of giving us bountiful berries, were the days of bearing fruit over? What a profound disappointment that would have been!
Then I took a closer look early this month and saw – through my grateful eyes – hints of tiny baby leaves and very small pink buds! A miracle of nature. How did these plants know it was time for them to leaf out?
The leaves and buds will grow and eventually, the buds will miraculously change into blueberries.
I can now look forward, in a few weeks, to going outside to collect the bounty. Timing this adventure is crucial because I must gather most of the ripe berries before the birds discover and devour them!
If history repeats itself, and I get there in time, I will be able to fill a large bowl of blueberries to bring into the house. There will be blueberry muffins and blueberry scones. And if I’m lucky, a grandchild or two will arrive to help with the baking.