Blueberries!!!

Hi Neighbors,

As some of you have been noticing, ripe blueberries are starting to be available for picking in the front area. Numbers are down from last summer because last year the landscaper mistakenly pruned off this year's fruiting canes, but there are at least a couple of mouthfuls out there. Peak picking will probably be in about 10 days.

Also, it looks like 9 out of the 10 newly planted 12" blueberry plants (with red ribbons) are thiving, so please be careful not to step on them. Be sure to wander down the hill toward Vischer Ferry Road as the "rescued" bushes have some handfuls of blueberries on their upper branches. I have cut down the "imposter" cherry bush (with ripening dark fruits that have pits) in the blueberry patch but there may be other cherry bushes out there that I missed so be careful.

Finally, I initiated some discussion at our February meeting about whether we should reconsider applying pesticides to the lawn areas up front owned by the Water Authority (two parcels) and the Town (one parcel). The consensus of those present at the meeting, however, was that the community wished to continue to apply pesticides to the 3 parcels, and so I asked the Town to renew the contract. Recently, TruGreen made its third of five pesticide applications of the year in the vicinity of the blueberries, probably a liquid grub killer based on the July time frame and the equipment I saw them using. Those yellow warning signs are still up advising that people and pets should stay away for 24 hours (the signs are undated). Please contact me if you would like to join a committee to address this subject.

Rick Zahnleuter

Park District Chair