Blackberry season has arrived. This year, the blackberries are ripening about a month later than usual, and the chill and rainy days we've been having in August, unlike previous years, have been a bit of a concern. Nevertheless, we're enjoying the seasonal flavor of black berries.
Blackberries are quite robust plants. No matter how many times you cut them back, they always sprout new shoots from the ground the following year. As such, they're sometimes treated like weeds in Germany, which is somewhat surprising given that their seedlings are sold in stores and the fruits can be quite expensive when purchased.
Even I live in an urban area of Germany, there are three or four places nearby where blackberries grow lushly.
Wading into the thickets to pick the fruits seems to be fun for kids ... well, to be honest, it's fun for me as an adult too.
By the way, in what I assume are public areas near my home, there are trees bearing pears, apples, and cherries. In the gardens of my friends' homes or in their rented gardens, there are trees with plums and figs in addition. I'm often told, "You can take as many as you like." It makes me realize that I really live in a forest nation, Germany.
Nature can indeed be a threat to humans, but it also quietly exists, offering its abundance without seeking anything in return. In our frantic capitalist world, we tend to be quite transactional, but the abundance and generosity of nature are truly awe-inspiring, something I especially feel every year around this time.
Let's enjoy the blessings of nature and the flavors of the season 😊
ブラックベリーの季節がやってきました。今年はブラックベリーが実るのが1ヶ月ほど遅く、8月の今肌寒い雨降りの日が続いているのが例年と違って少し気がかりですが、季節の味を楽しんでいます。
ブラックベリーはとても強い植物で、切っても切っても翌年また新芽が土から顔を出すことから、ドイツでは雑草のように扱われることがあります。お店に苗も売っているし、マーケットで実を買うと結構な値段するのに・・・。
私はどちらかというとドイツの都市部に住んでいて、そんな都市部でも、ブラックベリーを採れる茂みが近所に3つ4つあります。一箇所だけでたくさんとれます。子供のよいおやつで、これくらいだと家に帰るまでに食べ終わってしまいます。
茂みに分け入って実を採るのも子供には楽しいようです・・・・・いや、大人の私でも楽しいです。
ちなみにうちの近くには、多分公共の場であろう場所に、梨の木、りんごの木、さくらんぼの木が植わっています。お友達のおうちの庭や、レンタルガーデンにもさらにプラムの木、いちぢくの木などが植わっていて、「持っていきたいだけ持っていっていいよ」と言われることもあり、森の国ドイツに住んでいるんだなあと実感します。
自然は人間の脅威になることもありますが、静かにそこに存在して、見返りを求めず、豊かさを分け与えてくれる側面もあります。この資本主義の慌ただしい世界で私たちはとかく見返りを求めがちですが、自然の豊かさや寛大さってすごいなあと毎年この時期に特に感心するのでした。
自然のめぐみと季節の味を楽しみましょう！
Those look wonderful!
My neighbor has a blackberry vine that grows along his fence. I get jealous of his blackberries every year.
I appreciate the bushes. You can ask your neighbor a branch and make a new plant out it 😁 Seems it's quite easy.
That’s a great idea, and it had never crossed my mind. Thank you.