23 Comments
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Stanley Wotring's avatar

Even invasive plants can bear fruit!🍎

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Jason McBride's avatar

They produce my favorite trail snack!

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Stanley Wotring's avatar

My grandmother used to make the best blackberry dumplings!

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Liz Gauffreau's avatar

I like the way you think, Stanley!

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Stanley Wotring's avatar

Thanks!

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Peter Blasevick's avatar

And despite the fact that I don’t drink, you have my favorite Pinot in the world :)

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Jason McBride's avatar

Ha! Those pesky plants are good for something

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Cork Hutson's avatar

Hey Jason - looking forward to reading your posts. I lived in Eugene back in the day (1979-81) and write an occasional story about that time. Loved it out there. Funny, one of the things I remember so well is picking blackberries from the prolific plants near the Willamette.

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Jason McBride's avatar

Thanks for reading!

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Richbee's avatar

Under every berry leaf is another found prize ready to eat. Blessings can be hidden. Bees treat the flowers pollen to spread the word to proliferate and provide food for wildlife to eat, medical leaves last to dry loose bottoms from flu and heal the intestinal flu. Take heart the thorns may prick, but so does life. So when your sick use the berries in a pie, dry your eyes, see and remember the walk you take with precautions, long pants to wear, not to get scratched when you return for another bout with natural forces and consider your not allergic to poison oak that runs on it’s own nearby.

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Jason McBride's avatar

Sadly, I'm allergic to everything outside--I just don't let that keep me from enjoying nature

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Priya Iyer's avatar

I didn’t know this and now, I’m imagining the river, the trail, and the blackberries!

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Jason McBride's avatar

It's a beautiful thing!

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Ann Collins's avatar

You’re off to a great start Jason! I love that old saying about tree planting. Who knows what this might grow into? I hope it brings you joy!

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Jason McBride's avatar

Thanks! Nothing brings me greater joy than being outdoors and later making art about it!

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Stace Dumoski's avatar

My folks lived in Oregon for a little while before I was born, and I grew up hearing reminiscences of roadside blackberry picking -- quite a fantasy for someone growing up in the southern California urban sprawl!

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Jason McBride's avatar

Yeah, roadside blackberries are a treat unavailable in SoCal, you guys have much better Mexican and Chinese food

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

All those juicy, wonderful blackberries growing in your backyard. What bounty ... whether you want it or not.

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Brian Funke's avatar

I am very much looking forward to this series. I thoroughly enjoyed today’s haiku and art!

And such a good lesson in just beginning. I find I’m more apt to continue when beginning isn’t tied to some arbitrary idea that resides outside of me.

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Jason McBride's avatar

Thanks! Of all things I've started, very few of them have been the ones where I said I will strt tomorrow,

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Bliss Grey's avatar

If I have lost track of Time, I consider my day a success.

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Jason McBride's avatar

Yes! That is a great measure of a successful day!

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Julia Goodfellow-Smith's avatar

I love this idea and am looking forward to hearing about how the seasons change there. And I love the first instalment. 🙂

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