Fruits of the forest.

I've been stealing from the park, again!

But his time no wild flowers or tractors were harmed in the process.  The only thing harmed are my fingers and arms, which are now covered in scratches and thorns.

I've been picking blackberries.  Here's my booty:

 

I have been looking at them over the last few weeks, going from flowers to green berries, then bright red, and at last, black.  I was waiting...  And today I couldn't walk by and leave them there, it's such a lovely day and they were begging to be picked.

I know all the rules for picking blackberries, as my Dad used to bring us out on chilly September Sunday afternoons, when we were small, armed with our little plastic bowls, and our wellingtons.   We'd end up in some farmers field and hope we didn't get chased by the cows.

The rules:

1. Don't pick from the bushes near the road.

2. Don't pick from the lower down branches.

3. Don't pick the squishy ones.

4. Don't pick the one's with the spiders on them.  (That's not actually a rule,  I just made it up now, cos I don't like spiders)

You could eat them if you wanted, and we used to, without even washing them first!  Such rebels.

So.

Don't pick from the bushes near the road, well I was in the park, so that's OK.  

Don't pick from the lower down branches?  Well being vertically challenged this rule was hard to stick to.  And all the best one's are up high.  I had to be careful, firstly not to fall into the brambles as I was reaching, and secondly not to fall into the river, as the bushed all hang over it.  Two old men came by and offered to help me with the high up berries, by lifting me up!  I did consider this offer, but then after a further examination of the two gentlemen, I declined.  I though that if I took them up on their offer one of them might have a heart attack from the strain of lifting me and I didn't have my phone with me to call an ambulance.  (And I also thought I might have to share my harvest with them if I let them help).  They also offered to help the pie when I make it.  I also declined that offer informing them that if I did make a pie, there was no way it would make it as far as the park!

Don't pick the squishy ones.  Well sometimes you don't know they are squishy until you pick them.  Hence, I've ended up with purple fingers!

I'm not going to mention the rule about the spiders.

Now, what to do with them is the question.

I thought I could make an apple and blackberry tart, as usually at this time of the year I have a good crop of apples on my tree.  But this year I got these two miserable offerings.  

I'm not having much luck growing things this year.  (I won't mention the Amaryllis, of which mine still doesn't have a flower, or even a bud).

So I think I'll put them in the freezer and keep them until I have a crowd here at Christmas (can't believe I mentioned Christmas in September!!) and then everybody can sample the delights of the Dodder.

Might go back tomorrow and get some more...