Alpine Strawberries

It was a delight to go into the garden and discover that the Alpine strawberries were in good shape after their first winter. The pots need a good weeding and a bit of fertilizer and then they'll be good to go. I'm already looking forward to tasting a few berries this summer. Their taste is headier and more perfume filled than that of a traditional sized strawberry and much more concentrated. I'm also looking forward to the photo of them after their much needed grooming. I wonder if they need to be divided?

I've Been Robbed!

Wasn't I just delighted beyond belief when I found this strawberry ripening in my very own garden in early March? The answer is yes, indeed! It was a thing of beauty and I couldn't wait for it to ripen fully for that first of the season, heavenly scented, berry to pass through my parted lips into my mouth for a burst of flavor in what still seems like winter weather. Not in the cards. It disappeared, like so many fantasies, when I woke up and noticed it was missing. This strain of strawberry is really working well for San Francisco. It's called Diamonte and grows very large, very healthy plants that die back during winter, but reappear in spring. I'm hoping to find more.