Raspberry heaven

Dad plowing and expanding the raspberry patch in the late 1980s.

Once upon a time, my dad planted a couple red raspberry plants near his vegetable garden. To his amazement they grew, and grew well, so he planted a couple more. He cultivated, fertilized and tended them and they began to spread and take hold. And oh…the berries. Large, sweet and delicious.

Year after year, the patch and yield grew. Bears and birds were common visitors, and we all spent many hours in the patch picking those luscious berries and, of course, taste testing along the way. The berries love those hot, humid summer days. Other than the prickly bushes, raspberries are really much easier to pick than strawberries, given the size of the plants.

Now, nearly 40 years later that same little raspberry patch is still thriving and the fourth generation of the Manninen family is enjoying the berries every summer.

Every time the berry season rolls around, I think of my dad and how much hard work and dedication went into his berry patch. He loved eating and sharing them, too, as we all do.

The juicy delight of fresh raspberries is the perfect end to July.