The First Harvest
JOURNAL ENTRY #6
FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2026
Today marked a special milestone here at The Union House of Hogarth.
After four years of watching and waiting, I finally harvested my first blueberries.
When we purchased The Union House in 2022, life looked very different than it does today. For the past several years, we spent much of our time traveling back and forth between South Carolina and Florida. By the time we arrived at the house each summer, the birds and squirrels had usually beaten us to the blueberries.
As I flipped through the old Almanac, I noticed June’s reminder to “net the blueberries.” Truthfully, I had never even considered netting them before. Each year, the berries were simply left to their fate while we were elsewhere, tending to life’s responsibilities.
This year was different. For the first time, I was actually here when the blueberries ripened.
Armed with my steel-toed work shoes and a pair of garden shears, I made my way into the orchard area and carefully snipped through the dewberry thicket to reach the bushes.
What I found waiting for me was worth every scratch and snag.
While there was evidence that a few birds had enjoyed some early samplings, there were still blueberries everywhere.
By the time I finished harvesting, I had gathered over a half gallon of beautiful blueberries, with many more still ripening on the bushes.
I cannot adequately describe how excited I felt.
After years of arriving too late, I was finally able to enjoy the harvest.
The berries were cleaned, sorted, and frozen for future use. Though if I’m being completely honest, a few may have found their way into our pancakes this morning.
And they were absolutely delicious.
Sometimes the sweetest harvests are the ones we’ve waited years to receive.
Until next time,
Lorena Hogarth
LHogarth Creative Living
