31 December 2011

Weekend Flowers: Blackberry

Crispy white petals and a lovely tuft of stamens within, the Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus aggregate) flower is in itself, to my eye, very attractive.  For this reason, it becomes my Weekend Flower contribution. 

In Australia though, it is considered "a weed of national significance" as it has over time, invaded bushland, National Parks, roadside verges and pastures etc. According to this governmental site, the growth then creates increased fire hazards, can restrict access to water and land, and subsequently will decrease property values.

Apart from the above, you have to admire the flower don't you?  What a shame, there is a positive ... and a negative.  What started out as an introduction from Europe to Australia in the mid 1800's as a horticultural plant, was soon recognised to be a serious weed.  More reading if you wish on CSIRO site here


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12 comments:

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Too bad it is a weed as it is very pretty.
Happy New Year
Barb

Petra ;o) said...

I love to eat the fruits, the Blackberries!
Nice Pic!
HAppy new year!

Anonymous said...

I love all flowering plants:)
Happy New Year,
Gisela.

Nadege, said...

So pretty.

Happy New Year.

Jenni said...

Such a sweet flower on an ugly plant! I remember blackberrying as a kid...we would have BUCKETS of them both eaten and to take home.I don't see them all that often anymore...I guess most councils spray them.
Jenni

Jama said...

They are so pretty!

Jenni said...

Such a sweet flower on an ugly bush! We used to collect and eat buckets of them when I was a kid. I guess most councils spray them these days....I certainly haven't seen too many around lately.
Thanks for coming by my blog so frequently Carole..it is really nice we have 'met'. All the best to you and family for New Years and 2012.
jenni

Roy said...

This is a lovely image Carole.
Have a great 2012.

Burtine said...

It is a pretty thing. Too bad it has such a down side.
We have the same thing in Canada with a plant known as Purple Strife. It came in on the bottom of campers boats and soon was clogging our canals and waterways. Choking out all the natural habitat. On the upside, it is harvested and used for fertilizer.

Jan Castle said...

Hi Carole...we have the "Himilayian Blackberry" here in Oregon and it too is considered a weed. When we bought our 5 1/2 acres, it was 8' tall and full of thorns. My husband wacked and dug roots the size of large sweet potatoes...mountains of them. Finally we have them under control and can just mow them down! The fruit has a wonderful taste and the flowers are also white. There is vacant property across from our house so we can pick all the fruit we want each summer...YUM!
Jan in Salem, Oregon - USA

Tina´s PicStory said...

thanks for this lovely flowers :)

Judy said...

There are a number of weeds like that - started out as necessary to the colonists, and have become a nuisance. The most widespread here is the purple loosestrife, which is crowding native species out. But it is a gorgeous colour...