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There’s just something about babies that grabs your attention and makes you stop for a moment to appreciate their beauty. Regardless of whether they’re children, animals, tree leaves or baby fruits! As a naturalist and plant lover, I find myself getting excited when I see a flower with a pollinator inside of it or watching for the first sign of the baby bump of an apple to appear. Last year, I planted a small orchard on our property, so every moment of spare time, I find myself outside, examining things, watering, and waiting in anticipation for the next phase of development. This doesn’t just happen at home. I do this when I’m out on the lake, too. All over the Jocassee Gorges right now, you’ll find clusters of baby muscadines, spheres of dogwood berries, blackberry drupelets, blossoms and baby bumps on common persimmons. As a child, picking blackberries for my grandmother’s first cobbler of the summer is one of my favorite memories. I wonder if the bears, squirrels and raccoons examine everything, like I do, and wait with excitement for that first sun-ripened goodie. ~ Sheryl White, JLT guide