Berry Picking Time In Texas

They bloomed several weeks ago, and now they are producing ripe berries.  I am speaking of the early variety of small wild blackberry known as "dewberries."  The larger wild blackberry comes along in a few weeks.

Several days ago we noticed that we have several patches of dewberries on our property and that they are beginning to ripen.  We picked just enough for a taste on our low-fat, ice cream sundae last night.  We walked down today with two containers and found quite a few ripened to a dark black.  We picked about a quart, perhaps enough for one of life's most delicious experiences, wild berry cobbler.

There are many others beginning to turn red and an even large number still green.  Our builder told us about another area near Trinity where there are many, many vines.  We plan to drive over there tomorrow.

Berries tend to grow in low, inaccessible areas, perfect habitat for snakes.  Texas has several varieties of rattlesnakes, copperhead moccasin, water moccasins and coral snake all native to this area. And did I mention fire ants?  Mean suckers that cause a pustle every place they sting. The rule in Texas is don't put your hand or foot any place you cannot see.  So we took a stick to prod around in any area we could not see before stepping or picking.

The vines themselves are not very friendly and have spines that stick and scratch.  You usualy return from a berry picking trip with punctured fingers and scratched arms.  Cec concluded quickly that gloves would be a good addition to her berry picking repertoire.