CRANBERRY LANE

The wrappings of a warm scarf around your neck. The crisp crackling of red autumn leaves underfoot. Basket in hand, you walk a wetland dirt lane, lined with crimson trees and vine like bushes filled with tart wild cranberries, ripe and glistening, they beckon you for picking. Venturing into the marshlands where the cranberries nestl among the damp earth. With each step, the wooden boardwalk creaks beneath your feet, a symphony of nature's chorus. Dew-kissed grasses bowed gently in acknowledgment of your presence. A faint scent of berries linger in the breeze, guiding you deeper into the bog.

As you reach the edge of the marsh, you spot the ruby treasures glistening amidst the green foliage. With practiced hands, you pluck the ripest berries, their tart aroma teasing your senses. Lost in the rhythm of the harvest, time seemed to stand still. The sun cast its golden rays upon the marsh, painting the landscape in hues of amber and crimson. Your heart dances with joy as you fill your basket with nature's bounty, each cranberry a testament to the season's abundance .

A Sunday afternoon drive through the scenic backroads of Southeastern Massachusetts yield a crimson view around every turn. Nestled among the towns and villages are more than 14,000 acres of cranberry bogs. These bogs are the workplaces of the nearly 400 cranberry growing families. For generations they have nurtured and cultivated these wetlands, contributed to their communities, provided shelter and habitat for hundreds of plants and animal species, and helped to preserve the beautiful New England countryside. The cranberry is a Native American wetland fruit which grows on trailing vines like a strawberry. The growing season begins in April, with the emergence of white and pink blossoms and ends with harvesting fruit in November. Cranberries are grown through the northern part of the United States and Canada, as these regions offer the special conditions that cranberries require, including sandy soil; abundant fresh water and a dormancy period that provides enough chill to produce a crop the following growing season.

Cranberries are rich in antioxidants, and scientists believe that it is the combined actions of many different phytochemicals that contribute to their overall effects. These antioxidants can reduce oxidative damage to cells. Take a walk down B.Witching's Cranberry Lane and savor the ruby colored fruit for enjoyment, no matter what the season.