Moon phase: First quarter Weather: Hot Phenology: Wineberries! Another photo from Assateague. Today I had the day off, and I spent an hour picking wineberries (Rubus phoenicolasius) which are the most delicious raspberry species. Technically, picking them where I did is illegal, but it really shouldn't be because it's an invasive species that the park is actually trying to get rid of, so they can't complain. Of course, I recall that last year there was a case in Montgomery County where people were picking mugwort in parks and the park officials were trying to stop them — and then bringing in goats to get rid of the mugwort. So parks are not always very logical in their rule-making. Anyway, I brought home about a quart and ate a whole lot off the bush as well. They're really best eaten right away; they're even a little warm from the sun.