We're reaching into the archives for today's #BenInNature update presented by our friends at ...

June 13, 2021

We're reaching into the archives for today's #BenInNature update presented by our friends at Carter Bank & Trust! The following post was originally published on July 2, 2020.

Grab your bucket because the blackberries are ripening! Rubus allegheniensis, also known as the Alleghany blackberry or common blackberry, can be found pretty commonly throughout eastern and central North America. Given the thorns and the leaf shape of this plant, you might not be surprised to learn that it's a member of Rosaceae, the rose family.

Common blackberry plants require at least partial sun, and they need full sun to develop quality fruit. They can form pretty intimidating patches, so if you're growing them at home you'll want to thin the plants out on occasion.

Ripe blackberries are delicious, but we always caution folks to be careful when eating fruit or plants found in the wild. If you find a blackberry patch in an area you're unfamiliar with, there's no way of knowing if someone has come by and sprayed the plant with a weed killer or pesticide, so be careful out there!

ABOUT #BenInNature
Social distancing can be difficult, but it presents a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. In this series of posts, Administrator of Science Ben Williams ventures outdoors to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world. New updates are posted Monday - Friday, with previous posts highlighted on the weekends. This series of posts is made possible thanks to the support of VMNH Corporate Partner Carter Bank & Trust (www.cbtcares.com).

NATURE PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS
If you discover something in nature that you would like help identifying, be sure to message us right here on Facebook with a picture (please include location and date of picture) and we'll have our experts help you identify it!