The Blackberries are coming, the BlackBerries are coming!
Yes, the tart sweetness of wild blackberries. Free, but at a cost to life and limb. Hands get beat up, shredded and turn a very dark color. Must wear heavy pants, thick soled shoes, and long-sleeve shirts out in the hot sun for the battle with the thorns. Must also be prepared to do battle with the yellow jackets and other insects competing for the sweetest berries. There is NO easy way to pick these black glistening jewels. Each and every berry must be earned with some blood, a lot of sweat, and sometimes, a few tears.
We have a ten-foot tall wall of blackberries running approximately 300 yards between our property and a neighbor. One must use a walking stick to slowly traverse to the wall of berries so as not to fall in a gopher hole, or into a sticker bush along the way.
When the berries are ripe, we can make jams, jellies and pies, or simply freeze the berries for sprinkling on top of a bowl of ice cream. They are great in smoothies, too.
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| The first bowl of Ripe Berries 2018 |
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| Mostly Green Berries on those Thorny Branches |
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| Blackberries are Worth the Battle |
