I don’t know about anyone else out there, but we are drowning in huge, sweet make me proud blackberries right now. And I’m one hundred percent okay with it. They have always been my favorite berry and are around for a short period of time every year, in-between spring and summer. For three years we have had our five bushes, gifted from a fellow farmer friend (thanks Jason). Two are thornless and the others are traditional. I have pruned, composted and prayed over these babies.

The first year we kept them alive. Hooray for small victories right?! Last year we got enough for a pie; you read that correctly, one pie. I did get some great photos of our honeybees collecting nectar so all was not a loss. I trimmed them back after their gallant effort, mulched heavy over winter, and well forgot about them.

This year ladies and gents, the bushes did not fail us! They came forth in early spring growing with such force I thought I would have to add more support or an arch for them to grow over.

These are what the bushes looked like earlier today. Thank you Priapos, Emesh, Demeter and all other gods and goddesses of nature and agriculture. And as ever many thanks for the education I have received from my man Charles Dowding. Check him out if you haven’t yet and want to up your gardening game.

I harvested three pounds of berries today along with some beans and tomatoes. There are so many more berries that will keep me busy for about another week. Needless to say I usually take full advantage freezing and preserving and making all the jam.

So, the thought for the day is have patience in regards to things that grow, which is something I am always working on. I rename 2020 The Year of the Blackberry…she has earned it.