OT Blueberries

I photograph quite frequently along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but I would like this year to pick blueberries for personal consumption. I know that an individual is allowed to pick one gallon per day for personal use. I normally travel the area between Cherokee and Graveyard Fields.I want to inquire of people who frequently travel this section as to the prime time of finding the most abundant ripe blueberries. I always carry my camera when up there so this could be considered a photography question sort of. Thanks and any advise will be appreciated. Ray Dove, Comer, Ga

Hi Ray,

The blueberries are pretty much at peak at my house, which is about two weeks earlier than usual. As always, some are starting to dry up and some aren't ripe, but I've never seen so many come in at the same time and so early. We're at 4100 ft so I imagine there are plenty of pickable berries at Graveyard now with peak starting in a week or so. Picking season usually lasts a month or even longer here but I don't think it's going to last as long this year.

Hope this helps.

Lori

When I was at Graveyard June 30 I didn't see a single ripe blueberry and I looked. Also none in the area on July 3. Tasted a few looking ready in Leicester yesterday but all I tasted were still a bit on the pucker side. I'd guess they'll be getting pickable in the next week. I should be up there Thurs or Fri and will post an update--Larry

Thanks Lori and Larry, I 'm looking forward to your post later this week, Larry.
Thanks a bunch, Ray

Well it took longer to get back up there than I expected.However today I was up there and there a lots of blueberries and blackberries still ready for picking. Make sure to wear bear bells so you don't walk up on an unsuspecting bear and vice versa. I couldn't believe that the Graveyard Fields was full and cars were parked all around the outside on the grass, on a Monday--Larry

Ray--was back out there again today with our berry picking buckets and we got a few qts among us--both blueberries and black berries. We parked at the parking area on Black Balsam Rd and hiked out the S trail about 1/4 mile before beating our way down to the berries. However the whole ridge there all the way round to Sams Knob Trail and beyond is covered with berry bushes and vines. Some trees had all ripe berries whereas others are still red and will be ripening in the next week or two. I avoided Graveyard Fields as the parking lot has been full to overflowing the last couple weeks.

Thanks Larry, we'll be heading up there Monday,16th, to have a go at it. I appreciateyour scouting reports. ray