We are well into spring here in Australia and the Mulberry trees are covered with fruit. Liquorice just loves her Mulberries! This is her first year to enjoy their sweet flavor to the fullest extent. Earlier in the year there was a small “out of season” crop to give my little darling a pleasant taste of what was to come. Liquorice has seen the luxuriant green foliage burst forth from those “dead” looking branches, that once gave her those memorable and tasty purple treats, and are now weighted down, as fruit has grown larger and juicier. For ten or more days I have been picking the individual berries that had ripened early and given them to my grateful Newfoundland girl. However I soon noticed that my little darling was not following in my footsteps around the trees to sample and pass judgement on each berry that I picked. Rather she would sit herself down in the shade and allowed her trained human to locate, harvest and then deliver each individual berry to her waiting mouth. At least I did not have to open that mouth for her. That happens automatically! Liquorice can be so considerate at times! But, if I ate a single Mulberry, my little darling would give me a look of such utter disdain that convinced me that I was guilty of some unforgivable sin. If I picked two and gave her one while eating the other Liquorice seemed satisfied, but still gave me that suspicious stare!
However that was then. Now the Mulberries are plentiful, the birds are helping themselves, and as they land on the slender branches, to partake of the feast, they dislodge over ripe fruit that then falls to the ground. Liquorice has discovered that these extra ripe berries are too good to resist and since they are closer to her level than mine she vacuums them up with relish. And she does not offer any to me either! To gain access my little darling has to tunnel her way under the branches gracefully bent low, touching the ground under their bounteous burden. As I pick the berries, for my dear old Dad to make jam, I catch glimpses of Liquorice gobbling up her treasured “finds”, squashing others underfoot while hunting down those which fall as I collect our “share”. True to form though, once she has had her fill and emerges my little darling will once more sit and allow me to pick the freshest most succulent fruit for her enjoyment. Liquorice prefers the Mulberries I select and offer for her consideration because unlike the ones that have fallen to the ground I remove the short green stalks before she eats them!
Liquorice will follow me down to our White Mulberry tree. It too is laden with long slender berries, as sweet as can be however they have no appeal for my little darling. Previous Newfs have found them to be irresistible and this year is the best crop the tree has ever produced in both quantity and size. However Liquorice has no interest in them. She prefers the dark purple variety. As a result I am now collecting numerous dark purple “dillberries” from our lawn, each a special present from my little darling. Life is good being well trained, obedient and owned by Liquorice.
Arthur Witten
Liquorice – Isn’t dark purple a fashionable color?