Busy on the bramble

Brambles are busting out in rampant style in some areas around the garden. I was going to rip them all out, but decided to leave a few because come autumn, they will be lush with blackberries.

Taking a closer look, I was surprised by the small army of ants hard at work around the flowers. They were in perpetual motion, scurrying to and fro as they went about their business. What that was, I'm not sure. I looked closely for signs of aphids that the ants might be tending, but there were none.

A few months from now, I'll be racing against the ants, bees and wasps to gather in the beautiful plump fruits to make into bramble jellies, jams and crumbles. First, though, there will hopefully be a long, hot summer to enjoy.