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A dozen new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths in St. Mary, St. Martin and Assumption were reported in the day leading up to noon Thursday, according to the Louisiana Office of Public Health.

--In St. Mary, seven new COVID-19 positives make the total 222 after 1,401 tests. The death toll remains at 24, although 25 deaths have been reported locally.

--In St. Martin, one additional death brings the total to 20. Two new positives make that total 254 after 2,120 tests.

--In Assumption, the ninth COVID-19 death was announced Thursday. Three more positives raised the total to 206 after 1,003 tests.

Statewide:

--253 new cases raised the total to 30,642 after about 200,000 tests.

--Another 41 deaths were reported Thursday for a total of 2,135.

--The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 dropped by 33 to 1,432.

--The number of people on ventilators rose by two to 180.

“When the blackberries hang swollen in the woods, in the brambles nobody owns, I spend all day among the high branches, reaching my ripped arms, thinking of nothing, cramming the black honey of summer into my mouth; all day my body accepts what it is. In the dark creeks that run by there is this thick paw of my life darting among the black bells, the leaves; there is this happy tongue.” — “August” by Mary Oliver
If you have ever picked blackberries from the wild, those days likely conjure many good memories. We are now beginning to enter blackberry harvest season for some early varieties. Dewberries are in full swing, and blackberries will follow shortly. Most folks find these growing in the wild and enjoy an afternoon picking berries to make pies and jams or just eat them as they are.
Blackberries are shiny, black fruit bursting with sweet juice. Low in calories and fat and high in fiber, one cup packs 50% of the daily recommended vitamin C and manganese. Not to mention they contain a great deal of anthocyanins that are an excellent source of antioxidants full of disease-fighting power.
It may also be a comfort to know that blackberries are easy to grow and can be readily incorporated into your home garden or landscape. Once this native berry is ripe, get ready for an abundant harvest, picking every couple of days. It is sure to keep you busy.
You can find three types of blackberries: erect thorny, erect thornless and trailing thornless. The erect are bush form and can support themselves while the trailing berries will need to be trellised for support.
All blackberries are perennials and self-fertile. That’s good news for us lazy gardeners. We only need one plant to be successful, so long as it is healthy. The top of the plant above the soil is biennial — the canes grow vegetatively for a year, bear fruit the next year, and then die. However, every year the plant sends up new canes to replace those that died.
Prune by removing the old canes that already bore fruit and let new ones take their place. Pruning is an important part of blackberry culture. For detailed instructions on pruning, consult the LSU AgCenter publication “Blackberry Growing Guide” that’s available online at https://bit.ly/lablackberries.
The easiest way to grow blackberries is in a row trained like a hedge, with the plants spaced 3 to 4 feet apart. If you plant several rows, space the rows about 5 to 6 feet apart. Trailing blackberries need a trellis or other support.
It’s best to plant blackberries when the canes are dormant, preferably in early spring, but plants can be planted into early fall. Be careful of planting late in the fall when temperatures could drop, damaging some hybrid varieties. Plant in areas that receive full sun for the best yields. Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weeds. Make sure plants are well watered but also ensure good drainage. Fertilize in early spring with an all-purpose fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 16-16-16.
Now for the good part: the harvest. Pick only the blackest berries. Mature berries are plump yet firm with a deep black color and pull freely from the plant without a hard tug. Berries do no ripen after being picked, and once blackberries start to ripen, they must be picked often — every couple of days.
Blackberries are highly perishable and will only last a few days once harvested, even with refrigeration. They can be saved by canning, preserving or freezing, or eat them fresh for the best flavor.
A few of the recommended erect varieties include Brazos, a large-fruited variety that sets the standard for blackberries. It produces very large, fair-quality, tart fruit that make wonderful pies, cobblers and jelly. Cheyenne, an Arkansas release, produces large, sweet fruit that have a slight raspberry flavor. Brison is high-yielding and well-adapted to south Louisiana with fruit that’s firmer and sweeter than Brazos. Rosborough produces high yields of fruit with smaller seeds and is firmer than Brazos. Shawnee produces its large fruit heavily for several weeks.
Several thornless varieties that are erect include Navaho, Arapaho, Ouachita and Apache.
The trailing types are boysenberry, youngberry and dewberry. Boysenberries produce soft, large, tart, reddish fruit. Youngberries produce a very large, wine-colored, sweet berry and are of Louisiana origin.
Blackberries are easy to grow and enjoy. They are one of the most reliable and productive of the fruits we grow in our home gardens and landscapes here in Louisiana. They can be used in many home recipes or eaten fresh for their delicious, nutritious and power-packed fruits.

Elaine Trosclair Bailey, 67, a resident of Morgan City, La. and native of Terrebonne Parish, passed away peacefully on Sunday May 3, 2020 at 2:18 p.m. at her residence.
In an effort to comply with the CDC recommendations to cancel-postpone events with 10 or more people, and state officials imploring people to stay home and limit social interaction. A private service will be held. Burial will be in the Morgan City Cemetery.
Dismissal Services will be accessible by viewing the Jones Funeral Home, Inc. Facebook Page at 10 a.m. on Saturday May 9, 2020.

Aline Theresa Barideaux-Reaux, 92, a resident of Morgan City, La., passed away peacefully on Friday May 1, 2020 at 9:35 p.m. at Legacy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Morgan City, La.
Aline is survived by two sons, Caffery (Stella) Reaux) of Morgan City, La. and Alroy Reaux Sr. of New Iberia, La.; two daughters, Patricia Reaux of Morgan City, La. and Kerry Reaux of Lafayette, La.; three nieces that were like daughters, Arnette Rochelle, Bobbie Decuir, and Cynthia Dartest; one brother Orien Barideaux of New Iberia, La.; ten grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, nine great-great grandchildren and a host of other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Aline was preceded in death by her husband, Lucian Reaux; her son Clyde Edward Reaux; her granddaughter, Adrian Christine Reaux: her parents, Amy Darby Barideaux and Johnny Barideaux and her siblings, Verna Lee Barideaux, Leanna Lazard, Lillian Brown, Eunice Simmons, Nettie Barideaux, Emma Shaw, Melvin Barideaux, Hilton Barideaux, and Hilson “Jack” Barideaux.
In an effort to comply with the CDC recommendations to cancel-postpone events with 10 or more people, and state officials imploring people to stay home and limit social interaction. A private service will be held. Burial will be in the Morgan City Cemetery - St. Anthony Society Area in Morgan City, La. Dismissal Services will be accessible by viewing the Jones Funeral Home, Inc. Facebook Page at the time of services.
Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Houma-Jeanerette-Franklin in charge of arrangements.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.