A week that's seen warmer temperatures and rain has started to green the garden, with the leaves of daffodils and other bulbs emerging from the ground and buds beginning to swell on the trees.
The canes on the blackberry bushes, however, remain colorless with no signs of life.
I doubt the roots are dead, and I expect new canes to emerge from the ground in the next few weeks, but without new growth sprouting from last year's canes, there will be no flowers and no berries this year. The harsh winter, with temperatures dipping to -13F (-25C), is clearly to blame.
Garden experts here in Ohio have been urging caution, suggesting that woody plants and perennials may be unusually late in returning to vibrancy after an unusually long spell of unusually cold weather this winter. But I'm not cheered by what I'm seeing on the brambles at this time.