Summer is in full swing and the bees have been busy. So busy that the tangled jungle beyond our yard has been transformed into an edible landscape. The mango trees groan with fruit- even the multiple mango thieves (squirrels, raccoons, random neighbors) can't keep up production. The grass is dotted with sunset yellow fruit.More exotic, a previously nondescript tree is covered in little indigo oblong fruits. After a few Google attempts, I finally identified it: Java plum. Very tart, with a stick-to-your tongue texture not unlike cranberries. Better yet, when you crush them, the juice is--no lie--fuchsia. I am sorry to say I did not get a picture before using it as a marinade for chicken (the chicken turned a decidedly un-fun pinkish gray). But the summer is still young!
The most exciting back lot discovery, however, started in the front yard. The vines that we attempted to beat back around the bushes came back in spades with the start of the rainy season. The good news, they were grape vines! The vines had scores of tiny fox grapes: tart, dark and irresistible. I thought we might just eat them off the vine, but then we discovered nearly every tree in the back lot has at least one grape vine climbing it. A few were already ripe so the boys and I did some urban foraging.
The adventure was not without it's pitfalls. We started early in the morning so it wouldn't get too hot, but that's right when the mosquitoes were looking for breakfast. Here's a brief break in the picking to swat the lil' buggers.
But the boys worked diligently, plucking and cutting, and being very careful to just pick the darkest, ripest fruit, leaving the rest for the next harvest.
We each had our own bucket or basket. Here's Riley's share of the spoils.
In no time at all we had picked just over 4 lbs of the tiny little tart things, and we were ready to juice.
One stained pillowcase later and we had... about a quart of grape juice. Not enough for grape jelly, but maybe the next harvest. The boys are enjoying the juice over lots of crushed ice. A little goes a long way; it's the perfect refreshment for hot summer days. Cheers!
