Where to Find Them

For those few weeks in June and July when fresh sour cherries are available, it's worth every inconvenience to seek them out, whether you have to scour farmers markets or pick your own. (There are a few orchards in the area that have pick-your-own sour cherries.

(Go to www. washingtonpost.com /wp-dyn/articles/ A6474-2004May6.htmlfor a complete list of pick-your- own orchards provided by The Post's Weekend section.)

Best not to delay, though. As one orchardist warned, "From June 15 until they're gone, it's a fight between you and the birds."

-- Domenica Marchetti