Picking Wild Blackberries

Two types of wild blackberries grow in Western Washington--the Evergreen variety and Himalaya variety.  They are both from Europe, and are on the Noxious Weed and Invasive Species list.  Efforts to eradicate them in the Pacific Northwest have not been successful.

Maltby Park has a large area of the Himalayan Blackberries, which create huge, dense thickets.  The berries themselves are in profusion, and we've had three trips to the park to pick them for jam (16 jars) and two blackberry pies.

You've really got to be committed to the beautiful flavor and color of these berries, because you've got to wade through grass and thorns to pluck the fruit off the canes one berry at a time (but it's SO worth it!).