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| Dewberry blossoms |
For those of you not familiar with "dewberries", they are a wild berry that we have growing all over the South. They are closely related to the blackberry but are trailing instead of upright...they just sort of put out runners across the ground. The berries are dark in color and as you can see above, they start as these white flowers. Then, in a few weeks, they turn from flower to green fruit, then red, and then when they are dark purple, almost black, if you can brave the thorns, they are ready to be harvested.
Dewberries are prevalent all over this part of the country and in the Houston area, it's not uncommon to see people harvesting them from roadside ditches or empty lots while you're driving home from work! I've been known to be right there with them in years past. It seems everyone has their own secret patch they know about as the berries usually come back strong in the same spot every other year, especially after a wet spring. But this time around, we are very fortunate; we have ACRES of them growing in several large patches all over the farm! Over the years, when Ma lived there, we went out and picked quite a few with her blessing, but we never went crazy with it. Now however, we own it and can go as crazy as we want!
A couple of dear friends have requested access to the patches so they can gather some for themselves. Of course we said yes, and since we should have way more than we could possibly ever need, I think a "berry picking party" will be a fun way to spend a weekend here in just about a month or so. The picture below shows just one large patch I found the other day when walking around, covered in hundreds of little white flowers that will, in a few weeks, become delicious fresh fruit. As for what to do with them, they can be made into cobblers or pies, jam, eaten fresh...anything you can do with blackberries and raspberries, you can do with these.
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| Dewberry Patch |
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| Dewberry Patch |
We will keep you posted...I just hope we don't get "berried away"!
(forgive the bad pun, LOL)
Be still, my berry-loving heart--dewberries look wonderful! We're renters right now and won't be able to do any type of berries in our shared backyard space. Oh, how I wish we could. A berry-picking party sounds absolutely delightful!
ReplyDeleteHa, I love it, another "berry person"! Yes, they are really just a form of blackberries, not sure why they call them dewberries, but it's what we know them as, ha. I'll definitely have pics of the berry party!!! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!!
DeleteYum-o. I love blackberries, so I am sure I would love dewberries. What a treat to have your own berry patch!
ReplyDeleteYes, you would love them. Almost exactly like blackberries. We have many patches all over. When I start clearing land (at some future point) I'm going to have to section off areas and leave them as berry patches.
DeleteI think that's awesome! we have some kind of wild variety here but it's not producing much of any type of berries - just giant very thorny bushes that we can't seem to get rid off.
ReplyDeleteIt's so much fun eating something that is just growing wild. Don't give up on your berries (unless they are in your way of course). Berries are finicky, these for example have good years and bad years. Last year was horrible, hardly any berries at all. 2010, there were thousands of berries, we couldn't gather them all (of course we didn't own it then so we didn't want to try and get them all, ha). This year looks to be a great year, fingers crossed. The thorns are a pain (often quite literally) but I guess that's what keeps them coming back, since birds and other animals can't get to them very easily.
DeleteThanks!!!
Belated birthday greetings. I haven't been blogging (or looking) recently, because I have had a house guest and been really busy, so I missed that one. Many happy returns, it is nice to look back and see what has happened since the last birthday isn't it! Sometimes so much happens in a year. I love your blog and feel a real affinity with you and what you are doing.
ReplyDeleteHope it was a great day.
Dan
Awww, that's a birthday present comment! thank you for that. I remembered you had a house guest, I saw on your blog that y'all (oh, by the way, that's a southern US phrase that means "you all", LOL) had a great time. A year can bring so many changes (not always good but hopefully!). It's been a good year for me and I think it looks like a good year for you! Let's hope the next year is more of the same good things! Thanks again for your comment, it means alot.
DeleteI want in on the berry picking party! How exciting! You are so blessed to have all those right at hand...
ReplyDeleteDo you have fresh dewberries for sale?
ReplyDeleteAlas, we are a private farm, this is just our weekend place and we don't have any for sale. There are some places out in the Katy area that offer them. One is called "Dewberry Farms". You might give them a call.
DeleteDo you have fresh dewberries for sale? Please get back in dire need of a dewberry hit. David Beck 83two-5two4-2five67
ReplyDeleteAww, nice of you to ask and I understand the dewberry need, we love them too. Unfortunately we are just some land in the country that has a few dewberry patches on it. Nothing open to the public. There is a place out West of Houston called "Dewberry Farms" and they have places open to picking. Thanks!!! Good luck! Hope you'll come back and visit!
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