Monday, May 15, 2006

Meet Rubus L. Bramble

















It's a feeling, an attitude, almost a state of mind. It's mid-May in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Seasons are rudely contesting. One's not willing to let go, another's not willing to wait. Weather feels tormented, uncertain and surprisingly turbulent. Frost turns into cold rain. Warm sun becomes a penetrating chill. Back and forth. Soon the hillsides take on what appears to be a layer of dusted snow. Meet the blossoms of Rubus L. Bramble the common blackberry, birthed in chaos: Monarch of Blackberry Winter.

Rubus allegheniensis - officially certified USDA noxious weed, labeled a scourge and pest, vilified and despised, nuisance and annoyance, pain in the neck with chiggers, the devil's curse, exasperating, should be exterminated, and so the expletives flow…

But Mister Pest Manager, Doctor Flowers would like to remind you that the middle initial "L." stands for 'Linneaus', the Godfather of biology. The determined blackberry was classified and named by Carolus Linneaus himself over three hundred years ago, and is sure to survive to another time when it's temerity is more appreciated.


Blue Ridge Parkway
Alleghany County, NC

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3 comments:

  1. Leslie ShelorTuesday, 16 May, 2006

    There was a huge blackberry thicket in the woods here when I was small. We spent hours picking the blackberries, with a wary eye out for blacksnakes. I still love to find them in the wild!

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  2. D L EnnisTuesday, 16 May, 2006

    I agree with d. a. Doc, great photo!

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  3. John RobertsTuesday, 16 May, 2006

    I loved your description of this time of year in the mountains. You illustrate with words as well as you do with a camera.

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