Friday, May 14, 2010

A Simple Pleasure

Top
Home grown strawberries!

colander
I picked some today to make a strawberry-rhubarb crisp.

strawberrypatch
But you know what? They taste so incredibly delicious plain and warmed by the sun. 

Frenchlavender
That I’m going to have a little bowl of them just as they are! Au naturale!

strawberrybed

This is my strawberry bed. The pots on the sticks are so I don’t poke my eye out when I go to remove the netting!

netting

As you can see, once the berries start to turn red we have to net them or the pesky birds come and take nibbles out of them!

Yummyberries

I really want to encourage you to grow your own! They grow in pots if you don’t have a space outside. I read that they grow well in those Topsy Turvy planters too!

Believe me, a store bought strawberry doesn’t taste anything like a homegrown one!

As always, thanks for visiting today. I hope you all have wonderful weekends!

66 comments:

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Manuela,
Your strawberries look great. Enjoy!
Robin
p.s. love that little Sweet Home planter, too.

Anonymous said...

Hi Manuela!
Oh, what gorgeous strawberries! I'm sure they taste as good as they look. This is one of my favorite foods!
Have a great weekend, Dear One.
Be a sweetie,
shelia ;)

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

How wonderful to have your own home grown strawberries. We tried to grow some when we first moved in, but did not net them and the rabbits got them. Maybe we will try again and use some netting.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I am hoping to have Mr. Comforts of Home build one more bed this fall...and we will use that for strawberries. Your's look so beautiful!

We buy strawberries from a road side stand several times a week during strawberry season. I never buy grocery store strawberries...
Hugs,
Penny

Becky K. said...

Oh, I so love strawberries...and rhubarb! We pick our berries from a farm down the road. You are so right about sun-warmed berries. They are simply the BEST.

Becky K.

Happy@Home said...

Your strawberries look so yummy. I haven't tried to grow them because I thought the birds would get to them. The netting idea is a good one and nice to see that it works well too. I think I am going to have to give it a try now. Your photos are beautiful.

Hearts Turned said...

Great strawberry bed, Manuela! You're right--there's NOTHING like a sweet, sun-warmed strawberry from the garden! Have you tried Alpine strawberries--amazing!

Hope you have a beautiful day!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Good morning Manuela. My strawberry plants are blooming like crazy. I hope in a few weeks to have some nice berries too.
Marnie

vintage girl at heart said...

Mmmm I bet they are so GOOD!!
Nothing like fersh picked home grown warmed by the sun!!
Enjoy!!
Blessings!!
Love your little table vignette!!

vintage girl at heart said...

oops meant fresh!!!

Donna said...

Manuela,
I one time we had a strawberry patch, however this year I have planted several plants in large pots and they have strawberries about to turn red! You are so right they taste better home grown!
Blessings,
Donna

Darlene said...

OOOOoooo I LOVE the look of your strawberry bed!!!! I haven't ever tried growing them but now I REALLY want to!! I bet they are delicious. I usually get my strawberries from the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings and yes, they are delicious!!!!!

Debby said...

OH my mouth is watering. They sure look yummy.

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

I may just try them, Manuela! I was going to do a tomato plant in one of those topsy turvy things {no one else eats tomatoes at my house so one plant is plenty}. Fresh strawberries for the picking right outside the back door would be wonderful!

The Old Parsonage said...

They look bursting with sweetness! We go to a local farm to pick our own. Then I make jam - yummo!

Enjoy!
Leann

julie - eab designs said...

I am so happy you posted about this. We tried planting strawberry plants a few years ago and everything was eaten (not by us!) before we could pick them. We decided to try again and last week planted four plants. Now I know to place the screen over them. Thank you! We may at last get to eat our own strawberries.

dana said...

We used to grow strawberries at home when I was a kid. You are so right...you just can't beat the taste of homegrowns!! Your photos are great! dana

Richella Parham said...

I think a freshly picked strawberry is one of the very best-tasting things in the whole world. But I never would have thought of growing my own. Maybe I'll give it a try next spring--you've inspired me!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Ours aren't quite ready to be harvested yet, but I can hardly wait!

I love homegrown strawberries! Of course we still buy them locally or go to a pick your own as well, because our beds are not big enough to satisfy our strawberry love!

With jam to make, fresh picked to eat, sugared berries for cake and whipped cream...well you get the idea!

Enjoy those lovely berries!

Erin @ The Little Apartment said...

That just made me happy looking at those strawberries. That is awesome that you grew them yourself! I am currently plotting a raised bed at our apartment, our growing season is just beginning here at the Pacific NW coast!

Anonymous said...

Your beautiful bowl of berries look scrumptious and you're right, store bought doesn't taste as good as homegrown.
Enjoy your berries! and your weekend! xo

Moore Minutes said...

What a delightful post! Makes me wish for a strawberry patch. Yummy :)

mizdarlin said...

Thanks for the netting reminder...used to grow them terraced on the side of a hill, now reduced to a balcony pot of them..but lots of birds here to take advantage, so I'll be getting netting soon!
Gorgeous pics!

Damaris said...

Mmm...YUMMY!! The pictures are BEAUTIFUL!! I love the colors of the colander!! XXOO

Connie said...

Yuuuuum! Isn't it funny how the simple things in life are so gooooood, sugar?!
xoxo,
Connie

Jennifer said...

Your berries look fabulous! This is the first year I have tried to grow my own, but I have yet to have one as my kids go and pick them right off the vines! I just love your gardens!

Anonymous said...

Your strawberries look delicious! It reminds me of growing up when we had raspberry bushes. We would go out and pick them right off the bushes, eating them as we did. No need for a bowl that way! :0)

Julie said...

I'm going to get the plants this weekend to put in the Topsy Turvy my son gave me for Mothers Day! Here's Hoping for yummy strawberries as good lookin as yours! Hugs..

Bonita said...

We just got home from picking fresh strawberries at a farm! Love them! I want to grow my own one day too. Do you recommend any particular type?

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

OH Manuela- this post was actually mouthwatering...brought back the taste of a just picked, warm strawberry! Thanks!

Barb said...

Manuela, they look so yummy. There's nothing like a juicy, red, ripe strawberry. Enjoy!

Barb

brokeintrovert said...

I'd love to try homegrown strawberries. It would be great to have a strawberry patch. Your strawberries look beautiful!

Melissa Miller said...

Yum! Strawberries have become my new favorite fruit! Yours look really delicious Manuela.

Have a good weekend. ~Melissa :)

Kim@Seasons of My Heart said...

Your strawberries look delic!! Here in MN...they won't be ready until the middle/end of June. BOO

Each 10 or 20 for me please. :-)

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

Okay, now I wish I would have planted some strawberries!!! Looks good!

CarLe Etc. said...

Love your post...Beautiful strawberries,I just planted some plants and rhubarb too,but I live in Il. afraid mine won't look that good this year...haha. You mentioned a strawberry-rhubarb recipe,wondering if you could send me that or post it...thanks...love your blog.
Blessings
Carolyn

Linda said...

I just love Strawberries! They are so yummy.

All of these pictures really make my mouth water. (:>)

You sure have an eye for beautiful things...just the bowl of strawberries has a simple beauty!

Have a good day.

Linda @ Truthful Tidbits

Love the Decor! said...

i just love this time of year with all of the fresh fruit in season. Especially the strawberries!
Have a great weekend Manuela!

Flat Creek Farm said...

Yum! Beautiful, delicious home-grown strawberries. I'm off to raid my mom's strawberry bed ASAP! I love your strawberry bed set-up. Maybe, just maybe, I could handle caring for a bed that size. Thanks for sharing your berries! -Tammy

nina@themissadventuresofnina said...

they look amazing!

Eileen said...

Wow, that's a lot of strawberries for that bed! They look delicious. Enjoy!

Unknown said...

Manuela, Your strawberries are gorgeous! We planted several plants last year and are having problems with ants eating our ripe berries, any hints to helping us, and can i ask how many years have you had your patch? Thanks, Sue

Heathahlee said...

Love me some strawberries! Your pictures make me want some NOW! LOL!

Have a great weekend!

Susie Q said...

Oh Manuela! They look as delicious as they taste...well, as I imagine they taste!! What a sweet treat to have them growing in your very own yard!

Have a sweet weekend!!

Love,
Sue

Mary Ellen said...

We just went to pick strawberries at a local, organic farm on Mother's Day. I would really like to try to grow my own. I've read the plants don't produce until the second year. Is that true?

Mary Ellen

Lynn said...

How wonderful! Mine are a couple weeks away yet, but I look forward to them. Great pics too!

Nadine said...

Yum!
We enjoyed strawberry shortcake today. Sadly not from homegrown, they are not quite ready yet! :)

Blessings!
~Nadine

Anonymous said...

Oh, those strawberries look wonderful! I think I'll go buy a plant this weekend!

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

Hi Sweet Friend! Love those strawberries...I agree with you that freshly grown berries are best. Just like fresh eggs, homemade bread....mmmmmm...
We are getting ready to plant...have to wait till after chance of frost...just last night! I'm just itching to plant! Hahaha
Have a blessed weekend. And I loved your other posts on your home and the beautiful red pots and beautiful flowers!
Blessings,
Debbie

Julie Harward said...

I love them...could eat them constantly! I planted 76 plants once and the hub tilled them all up!
PS...that bread recipe does not need gluten added...please don't do that to it! Just let it rise..takes about 35 min. to rise up! :D

Vee said...

They do look delicious and even more so in that lovely blue colander! Enjoy them, Manuela, for you deserve them after all your gardening efforts.

Brenda said...

You have some very pretty berries. We just have blooms right now. Last year we had over 100 quarts of berries. We share a lot because there is just the 2 of us here.

Mimi Sue said...

They look so yummy! You're so right nothing like a homegrown strawberry. Mimi

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Ohhh, you are so right. Homegrown strawberries are so delightful! Yum!

XOOXO
Jen

Kathleen Grace said...

We just planted berries last summer and they are blooming now. I can't wait for our own fresh strawberries:>)

Terri Steffes said...

I used to have a huge strawberry bed and Bob just hated it. I didn't even mind feeding the birds! I am now buying my Missouri strawberries at the Farmer's Market. Maybe Bob would like it better if I used a net like you!

Melanie said...

You always give me so much hope that I can grow anything:) If we move back down south to SC, I am going to try my hand at some things like you have.

Happy weekend!

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

Those look so good! And lucky for me, I did buy some so I don't have to crave them all day - I know they're not the same, but they'll have to do for now, or I'll have to come for a visit! lol!

Donna said...

Your strawberries look delicious! I've been enjoying mine from the garden too. You're right....nothing like that home grown taste!

Hugs,
Donna

A Gardner's Cottage said...

Hey Manuela,

Mmmmmmmmmm those strawberries look wonderful and you are right nothing beats a homegrown strawberry!

Did you get your trees planted? I must say I am a little jealous about the lemon tree.

Have a great week end!
~Nancy~

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

There's nothing as good as a home grown strawberry! Enjoy your harvest!

Kristi said...

HI Manuela! I am new here, although I think I have been here before, your name sounds SO familiar! Anyway, I lOVE your blog and we have VERY similiar taste because I absolutely love your home!
And I couldn't agree more with you about the strawberries!!! Homegrown are the BEST hands down! I have raised beds like you do (square foot gardening) and love it! So east and wonderful! Look forward to seeing more of you blog :)
Kristi

Jenni said...

Hi Manuela~
Your strawberries do look delicious! I have never tried to grow my own; maybe someday I will try to! :) I always love seeing your garden, and what you are growing in it!

I hope you are having a beautiful weekend!

Debra said...

I love your blog. You are so lucky to already have strawberries. I just bought my plants- how many did you start with? I have picked up 12 June bearing- enough?

Cindy said...

I don't have a place to grow strawberries, but I do grow rhubarb and mix it with frozen strawberries and wa-la~ a delicious crisp. I made one for us last Wednesday and one for our Pastor and his family. It was SO good!
I also noticed the recipe for bread, I shall have to try that recipe, I love making bread and that looks interesting.

Brenda Pruitt said...

Here I eat strawberries on my cereal every morning. Yet I have scarcely thought of buying some plants to grow my own!
Brenda