Most of the year, people that live in Washington State curse the blackberry bushes. They are literally EVERYWHERE, they are thorny, and they are basically a weed that is impossible to control. However, at the end of August and into September, there is a short period of time where you see people stopped along the road (in the most peculiar places) in search of the perfect blackberries and trying not to get injured (did we mention the thorns?). It is now that time of year, and we are getting our fill of them whenever we can.
About once a week, we take along our little basket (see green basket below) when we go for our daily walk. In order to pick blackberries, we have to walk UP the Tolt Pipeline Trail, but it is well worth it. Because in the end we end up with about a quart of these "jewels". They are perfectly ripe and just waiting to be picked and eaten. Indy has even come to love them. While we are picking the berries that are what we call "above pee height", she has all of the blackberries she can eat below that area (she is non-discriminate when it comes to things like that). :) It is quite interesting to watch her because she sniffs the berry and apparently can tell if it is ripe or not. If it is not ripe, she leaves it on the bush -- if it is ripe, she gently pulls it off the bush and has herself a snack.