Looking Beyond the Obvious

Wasp checking out fruit

Fly making holes and munching

A couple of days ago, my husband and I headed for our neighbor's pie cherry tree, to see if the fruit was ready to pick.  We were delighted to see the bright red fruit and take photos.  He's a food writer, officially The Baking Wizard, and he creates totally irresistible baked goods to share with his readers.  Now came the time for a streusel-topped sour cherry tart--yum!  As we snapped photos, looking for the best angle to show off the luscious fruit, we began to realize we weren't the only ones to find the cherries delicious.  At least two kinds of wasp roamed around, flicking their wings and looking for breaks in the fruit so they could suck out the tasty juices.  We spied a fly that looked like a house fly but must be a different species as it was spearing holes into the flesh of the fruit and taking bites.

In our brief visit--we returned later to pick--we also spotted at least two other kinds of flies--one a tiny shiny golden-green gem, the other a racy fellow with striped wings.  This last kind apparently used the cherries as a trysting place as we noted several pairs in close embrace.

How often do we take the time to stop, look, and listen to nature in action?  After this encounter, I've vowed to pay more attention to the details I've been too busy to observe and to spend quiet time just soaking up the amazing variety of life around me.

When we returned, we quickly picked enough cherries for three tarts and I must say, the resulting dessert is fabulous.  With enough cherries in the freezer for two more tarts, I'll remember the thriving life that shared the tree when, in the dead of winter, I take a tangy-sweet bite of another marvelous tart.