Blackberry morning

There is a huge growing slump of blackberries which have taken over a thicket in the nature reserve area. The amount of blackberry blooms a few weeks ago was impressive - now the fruits are forming and ripening in the sun.  It may be a year for B******* Blackberry Preserve - there are so many of them!

The last couple of years I have felt very reticent to take blackberries from bushes.  A young woman with small children who seemed down on their luck were taking a lot of the local blackberries, and I didn't want to take some for me knowing that it might be denying these people some good food.  

A few years before that, it felt rather dangerous waking up early and stepping into the misty park with a carrier bag, gardening gloves and some containers (soon to be stained pink).  The preserve itself was lovely, I made three jars, and it provided a wonderful accompaniment to toast, yoghurt and porridge until the next February!

Today has been very worky and sniffy, with a lot of hay-fever, but thankfully a lot cooler, approaching a chill - and some very welcome rain this afternoon.