One of my favorite things to do in Walla Walla is to go blueberry picking. We have a cabin in the mountains outside of Walla Walla where we go to escape the heat of the city, the hustle and bustle of the city and generally relax. Probably the last of these things is the most convincing seeing as Walla Walla isn't actually that big.

[caption id="attachment_3211" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Blueberries on the Bush"]<a href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_5951.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3211" title="Blueberries on the Bush " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_5951.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a>[/caption]

Anyhow we are lucky enough to have a cabin across the stream from a lovely blueberry farm.  And we know the farmers who raise, grow and coax the berries out each year.

Now most blueberries are small but easy to pick. Or at least that's what I think. The great thing about these berries is that they are big, juicy and easy to pick.  Sure part of it this is due to the fact that the berry bushes are domestic--no wild berries for me but I think that the other part of it is that the bushes are in the mountains and there's a long growing season. More specifically, they are also well watered making for big plump berries.

This makes them especially good for picking. For eating. For making a crisp or a pie. For loving. <!--more-->

These berries are basically the size of your pinkey finger--that your small fifth finger. Given all of my various blueberry eating experiences that's pretty unheard of to have a blueberry that big.  But I guess that's what makes this blueberry farm so great.

[caption id="attachment_3212" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Blueberries in Hand"]<a href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_5957.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3212" title="Blueberries in Hand" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_5957.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a>[/caption]

Aside from the size of the berries the other wonderful thing is going out with a bucket and picking berries. The air is fresh, the blueberries  are full of a days worth of sun when you pick them in the early evening and the sun is beginning to set. These are the tastiest berries.

[caption id="attachment_3213" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="Homemade (MoM-made) Blueberry Crisp "]<a href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_5993.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3213" title="Homemade Blueberry Crisp " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/img_5993.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" /></a>[/caption]

Frankly, I think that they taste better straight off the bush in the mountains than they do out of the bucket or a day later out of the fridge. Don't get me wrong the berries that you pick always taste better than store-bought berries but they've got nothing on the berries that go straight from the bush into your mouth.

Three cheers to summer, blueberries and family!