Kelly Singleton, age 13, of Vineland, Ontario, Canada, for her question:

Where did strawberries originate?

Most experts suspect that this wondrous member of the plant world originated somewhere in northern Europe. Wild strawberries also seem to be native to Chile and other parts of South America In any case, the people of Europe enjoyed them thousands of years ago. Even though these were small wild berries, they were cherished by the people of ancient Rome. Until a little more than a century ago, all strawberries were gathered from wild plants growing in the woods. The berries were no bigger than small thimbles, but very sweet and tasty.

The cultivation and improvement of the strawberry plant began in Boston, around 1830. Soon these larger plants with their larger berries found a place in gardens. Nowadays, we can select our plants from hundreds of different varieties. And there are strawberry plants that thrive just about everywhere in North America, through Canada and the United States. Every garden should have its strawberry patch. Just prepare a patch of rich soil and select a strain that suits your region.