It’s the hedgerows that have been the culinary larder today.  The potager has had to take a back seat whilst I’ve headed off through the long grass and brambles to harvest blackberries.

I’ve been spying the bramble fruit for a few weeks now but today was the day that I could finally swoop in and take my pick.

Here’s a few snaps of the brambles with their berries coming to fruition.  There is plenty in the hedgerows along all our favourite basset walks.

I’m rather selfishly hoping that other dog walkers don’t like blackberries quite like I do.  I’ve taken to carrying a small container and my gardening gloves so I can maximise the chances of getting the best fruit.

Here are today’s pickings from Tunnel Gully. Hmm, they were very tasty on my breakfast cereal!

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Here in New Zealand brambles are considered to be a pest and subject to weed control by the Department of Conservation.  This is because of it’s invasive nature that threatens the native habitats around New Zealand.  When you see the proliferation in the forests, back country lanes and recreational areas it’s easy to see why it’s a worry.

But since brambles are a fact of life I’m afraid I’m going to snatch as many blackberries as I can from nature’s larder.  It’s a darn sight cheaper than a punnet from the supermarket that costs around$4. And, frankly I think that they look better than the cultivated kind.

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It’s OK, you can call me cheap.  I don’t mind.