Tomato is a fruit, but it is eaten as a vegetable.

I canned tomatoes this week. Until a couple years ago I didn't know the joy that preserving brings. I had no idea that jars of preserved fruit could bring so much happiness. Am I crazy for thinking so? Maybe. However, it's nice to put them on the shelf and know they are there for when I need them for salsa, spaghetti sauce, stews, and casseroles.

I'm hoping to preserve some more later this summer from my own yard. I planted patio and lemon pear tomatoes. They are doing well. They are all green right now. I'm hoping the birds will leave them alone this year. I discovered last year that once they started eating one tomato to just leave it on the vine and they would leave the rest alone until it was mostly eaten. I read somewhere that as gardeners we can't expect to reap 100% of our crop. That it would be selfish not to allow the bugs and birds or whatever else some too. I don't know if I entirely agree with the idea, but it does have a nice give-n-take to nature that I like. Now, just don't talk to me about the snails eating my flowers because I'm not as kind to them.