For a full week, the blackberries would ripen.
At first, just one, a glossy purple clot."—Seamus Heaney
When I was young, there were certain things we always did in summer in Washington State. One of them was to always pick wild blackberries and make a cobbler or pie. Another thing I did quite often was to swim in Lake Washington and jump from the diving board or high dive at one of the various swimming holes along the lake. Finally, it was common to buy a popsicle from the popsicle man who frequents beaches and parks in the summer.
We did all three of those things today. My best friend from elementary school tipped us off on a great blackberry foraging spot in Seattle at Magnuson Park. We got a huge container of fresh berries there for free. Blackberries grow all over Washington State and are often considered an evasive plant that has to be cut back or it with take over. It's easy to find great blackberry picking spots in parking lots, parks, behind churches and in back alleys.
We used to have a bunch in our back yard when I was growing up.
This was my husband Yoon's first full container of blackberries,
his first jump off the high dive at Lake Washington,
and his first fudgesicle from the popsicle man.
It was a day of firsts.
After he headed off to teach his last yoga class for the evening, I got to work and made a blackberry pie!
Mmmmmm....it's delicious and perfect warmed up with vanilla ice cream.
Blackberries go for an expensive price in the grocery store, but who would buy them here in Washington State when there's an abundance of them everywhere!
Are there wild berries or other fruits that you pick in the summer where you live? What are they?
Haven't been able to pick any berries this year. But, I do buy blackberries at the store, great to add to yogurt or smoothies.
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