Blackberry Time

Description

For a limited time only! Blackberry season runs June-July, and I’ve carefully cultivated my own wild patch not just for birds and wildlife to enjoy but also my fellow locals. Buy yourself a day – the whole day! – and bring yourself and as many people as you care to prickle to the Oak Ridge Bird Yard! Before you do so, just a few things to keep in mind:

1. While I work hard to cultivate my yard to maximize the output of all the plants there, it is still, effectively, a wild space. This means that much like any other briar patch in the Southeast, you just might cross paths with the snakes, mosquitoes, ticks, and other various and sundry critters that live there and that more respectable homeowners will call in the foggers for. Bloodsuckers and Japanese beetles you can kill on sight, but please respect the personal space of anything that isn’t actively after your internal fluids.
2. All the bushes are set out in a grid with eight feet between the bases. This means that even if it looks like a jungle in some spots, there are paths among all the plants out there. I try to keep them fairly clear, but if they’re getting overgrown, no harm in trampling some green – a little rough treatment actually often does a plant some good. If there’s a section that seems genuinely impassable, though, let me know and I’ll tame it for you.
3. Every rose has its thorns – and blackberries, in the same family, are no exception. I recommend some tough pants and closed-toed shoes that come up at least to cover your ankles (leather hiking boots even better). Some of the blackberry bushes out there are so laden with fruit that I’ve had to tie them up to stay upright! Here’s a helpful hint: the juiciest blackberries are often the ones that are covered up; if you want the good stuff, bring some gloves (leather or similar) that’ll let you get all up in their business. Or bring a friend who can lift while you pick elbow deep. And look for turtles while you’re down there. Either way, most folks go for the easy ones first – but you’ll get the best ones if you’re ready to do a little bushwhacking.
4. Bring your own container(s), and don’t hesitate to go comically large. When they’re really going I’ve picked gallons of berries each day, several days in a row.
5. Please park on the street rather than up the driveway.

No delivery fees – this is all on site! Once you’ve placed your order I will coordinate with you regarding time and location.