“O, the mulberry-tree is of trees the queen!
Bare long after the rest are green;
But as the time steals onwards, while none perceives
Slowly she clothes herself with leaves–
Hides her fruit under them, hard to find.”

-Dinah Maria Murlock Craik

my love affair with mulberries

This season I have been wooing mulberries and mulberry trees as though there’s no tomorrow. These lush, green trees that dot the landscape of our condo and the locality outside, is every mulberry lovers dream come true. 

I have been on a mulberry gathering spree. Whether it is during my morning walk with my walking buddies, or when I am walking Laila, my furry girl, or dropping the ten-year old to school. This love affair won’t cease, until this luscious, juicy fruit goes out of season.

The most fascinating thing about this juicy berry is that it comes in different shapes, colours and sizes. There is this black variety of mulberries, that can stain your clothing and fingers, and  there is a pale creamy variety that though may look bland, is sweeter than what heavenly nectar could be. There is also this ruby-red variety, which is mostly the colour before they turn black, or a shade of rufous (reddish-brown). The size of the mulberries may vary; to about a centimetre or to almost an inch. And so do the flavours. Some are honey sweet, some tad bland, some mildly sweet, and the slightly unripe ones are a tangy-sweet flavour. 

My dalliance with this fascinating berry packed with the goodness of anti-oxidants, proteins, iron and calcium is for a higher good. Thanks to this fruit, friends and family come together in a mulberry gathering communion of sorts. Harvesting dreams and freshly plucked desires so to speak. 

Mulberries O’ mulberries, stay close to me!

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Linking up with the charming lady Mel for #MicroblogMondays and our gracious lady Corinne for #MondayMusings