The Bramble Ballet: Buzzing Bees, Fluttering Butterflies and the Promise of Autumn Harvest

A corner of our woodland garden has been commandeered by a seemingly wild entity, our blackberry bramble. A luscious and tangling bush, the blackberry bramble belongs to the Rosaceae family, just like our beloved roses. And indeed, it seems to have taken a leaf out of the rose's book, becoming a verdant stage for a daily spectacle, a ballet of sorts, featuring a colorful and ever-changing cast of bees and butterflies.

This time of year, our blackberry bramble blossoms with a profusion of small, white flowers, as though strewn by a careless hand, releasing a subtle, sweet aroma into the summer air. It's this scent that lures in the most spectacular dancers, leopard and tortoiseshell butterflies, who flit and flutter around the bramble, their delicate wings mimicking the petals they dance upon. They are joined by an assembly of different bee species, each one buzzing merrily as they gather nectar and dust themselves in pollen.

You see, our blackberry bramble belongs to the Rosaceae family, same as the roses that we adore so much. It might be a humble, wild relative, but it definitely has its charm and significance. The Flora Danica - an absolute treasure trove of nordic flora - lists more than six wild species of blackberry brambles, each with their own distinctive features and habitats.

It's a beautiful sight, and one we are privileged to witness thanks to our red deer neighbours, the 'Crown Deer.' They have a particular fondness for the blackberries, and in their foraging, have unwittingly spread the bramble seeds throughout our surrounding forest. It's a delightful testament to the symbiosis of nature, the way everything connects, and we're reaping the rewards of this proliferation.

But the ballet of the blackberry bramble isn't just a summer spectacle. It's a harbinger, a joyful promise of the bountiful harvest to come. Each flower that blooms is a promise of a juicy blackberry waiting to be picked, a tart-sweet bite of autumn that's just around the corner.

As we watch the ballet unfold, we can't help but feel a tinge of excitement. The full bloom of the bramble is a sweet farewell to summer and a welcoming embrace to autumn. It's a reminder that the harvest months, the giving months, are nearly upon us, and we look forward to what they will bring with open hearts.

So, as the days grow a touch cooler and the sun begins to set a little earlier, we'll be right here, enjoying the ballet of our blackberry bramble. We invite you to join us, either in spirit or in person, and to keep an eye out for those first ripe blackberries, a sure sign that autumn has arrived. And when it does, we'll welcome it with open arms, ready for the bounty it brings.

Psst: Indeed, the magic of blackberry brambles is not just confined to our woods. Their winding beauty, blooming flowers and fruits have also discreetly woven their way into our humble artistic endeavours. We've quietly sought to capture their essence in a number of our patterns, a silent tribute to nature's marvels. If you feel a connection to the beauty of brambles, you may find subtle echoes of their charm in our designs. You can explore them at your own pace here.