Question: What is a blackberry winter?

[elleng]

Answer: Blackberry winter is mainly a southern term used to describe a brief period of cold weather that coincides with the time the blackberries are in bloom (typically in early to mid May). Other colloquial names for spring cold snaps include "dogwood winter," "whippoorwill winter," "locust winter," and "redbud winter" (depending on the region).

Ever heard of these names? And have you had a cold snap this May? It's not uncommon!

((From The Old Farmers Almanac))

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. Blackberry winter her in NW Missouri.

Particularly long one, as well.

I’m kinda done with it.

[happybird]

2. Never heard of it

but now that you mention it, the blackberries in the woods around the house have not bloomed yet. They smell so good when they do.

When I was growing up, one of my punishments was to tromp out into the woods and pick blackberries all day- especially if it was hot out and I was hungover. Ugh. We had a whole freezer full of them, lol!

Idk if it’s the pandemic or what, but I cannot keep track of the date or month. Time seems to be flying by and it’s like I no longer have any concept of it.

[Sneederbunk]

3. Not to be confused with Dingleberry Autumn.

[Bev54]

4. LOL thanks for the laugh

[Voltaire2]

5. Nah. It is when you are snowbound

in your cabin and all you have for amusement is a blackberry from 2008. So you eventually give up and run naked into the snow and die from exposure.

[alfie]

6. We are having it right now in north-east Georgiaq

Dogwood winter also usually here on Easter. Those are the only two spring cold snaps I know of folks talking about. Both are pretty reliable on their arrival each year. The blackberries are in full bloom now.