Picking juicy, ripe fruit is a beloved summer and fall activity. We’ve just enjoyed our first cherries of the season from our local “u-pick” orchards. We picked at least eight and a half pounds, and I think I have a good 3 hours of pitting ahead of me. Pie and preserves are on the way. What’s your favorite summertime fruit? Do you have any recipes to share?
Published by Kirsten W. Larson
Kirsten W. Larson used to work with rocket scientists at NASA. Now she writes picture books and graphic novels for curious kids -- and grown ups too. She's the author of the craft book, REIMAGINING YOUR NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK: A step-by-step revision guide (Both/And) and the picture books, WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane, illustrated by Tracy Subisak (Calkins Creek, 2020), A TRUE WONDER: The Comic Book Her Who Changed Everything, illustrated by Katy Wu (Clarion, 2021); and the Orbis Pictus honor winning THE FIRE OF STARS: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars are Made of, illustrated by Katherine Roy (Chronicle, 2023). Her forthcoming books include THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW, illustrated by Cornelia Li (Little, Brown, 2025) and THE LIGHT OF RESISTANCE, illustrated by Barbara McClintock (Roaring Brook, 2025). Find her at kirstenwlarson.com or on Twitter/Instagram @KirstenWLarson.
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Kirsten W. Larson 
Lucky you – we’re not so far along yet. I love home grown strawberries, but I think blackberries are my favorite.
Mmmmm, blackberries and strawberries. Our area is big for stone fruits — peaches, plums, apricots, cherries.
The western slope of the Rockies is a famous region for stone fruits too – at least locally, but I grow ‘soft stuff’ in my yard. Short lived, but easiest are black raspberries. I think I may even have some growing through the back fence into thew alley this year!
Looks like you had fun! And I love cherry pie 🙂 Favorite summertime fruits for me are strawberries and peaches! I wish I had recipes, but mostly I just eat them plain 🙂
That’s probably the healthiest way, Susanna. We are doing homemade vanilla ice cream today with cherries and chocolate chunks. It’s definitely not health food.
mmmmm! Peaches and plums right off the ground!
We have a farmer a half mile away who grows the most wonderful peaches. He and his wife just got the first peaches of the season last week. Yum!
Too cold here for fruit yet, but I just harvested mounds of basil and made our first batch of fresh pesto. Delicioso!
Agreed. You’ve just inspired me. I think I’ll make some pesto with that leftover basil today.
I like red/blackberries! 😀
Yum! You know, I have never seen blackberries around here. I’ll have to investigate.