Everything's coming up blue-- potatoes and berries, that is.

I am so happy about my blueberries! Until two years ago, my 20 bushes ( a wonderful mix of early, mid and late season varieties I got from White Flower Farms) were productive and carefree. But then the winter moth caterpillars descended and ate the flowers before they had a chance to bloom.

I researched methods of controlling the worms, and decided to use Bt. Unfortunately, my overgrow bushes were so tall that is was tough to get the spray to reach the foliage, even when I stood precariously on a ladder.

Next I researched pruning blueberries and gave them a major overhaul, removing old woody stems and trimming back suckers. 

This spring the Bt worked, the bumble bees bumbled from flower to flower, and the branches are bent to the ground with ripening berries.

I don't cover the bushes to keep the birds away-- instead I planted another ten bushes out among the perennials for them, and I pick all the ripe berries every day, morning and night. I can't bring myself to net and hurt even one of the friendly birds that eat so many insect pests in my garden, and sing to me all day.

When I was picking this morning a cat bird sat nearby and argued loudly that they were his berries...

The first harvest:

I also snuck a few new blue potatoes out of the edges of the planting, and made a colorful salad also featuring Oregon giant peapods, radish pods, and red scallion -- it was colorful and delicious. Here are the ingredients before chopping and mixing: