The blackberry or bramble, with its dark, juicy berries has been considered a valuable food source since the earliest times. Despite the nuisance of its thorny branches, it is traditionally valued for its use as a dye, for wickerwork and for curing skin complaints. 

Blackberries should not be eaten after the feast of Samhain (31st of October). In Irish folklore, it is believed the Púca* spat on the berries and made them inedible. The more practical reason is the berries begin to rot around this time of year. The Púca story is much more believable though!

*A Púca is a Halloween fairy or ghost believed to bring either good or bad fortune. The Púca can have dark or staunch white fur or hair. The creatures were said to be shape changers which could take the appearance of horses, goats, cats, dogs, and hares. They may also take a human form, which includes various animal features, such as ears or a tail.

One of a series of botanical illustrations inspired by Ireland's beautiful native hedgerows by Sally Caulwell. Other prints in the series include; Gorse, Blackthorn, Snowdrop, Burnett Rose & Wild Garlic. The above information on the blackberry was attained from Niall Mac Coitir's wonderful book Irish Wild Plants. 

Dimensions: A4 (210 x 297mm) or A3 (297 x 420mm) print on 340gsm uncoated paper. Print inset with a white border. The A4 print suits this handmade frame by Rocker Lane Workshop perfectly.