We were at Raintree in person a few weeks ago to buy some black currant plants. The business looks to be in good shape. Your blackberries could produce some fruit summer of 2012, the same time as the 4" potted thornless loganberry I bought along with the currants.

"every single one will sprout ... so i would hesitate to keep it in a maintained garden .... " Thank you Ken, that's good to know. Our yard is not the average yard with a lawn. It is only for wildlife, not looks. Clover instead of grass, beneficial flowers, herbs, gardens, Sunflowers and trees everywhere. Our yard blooms! I love it:) I collected some berries today. I probably will not make jam, but will plant more trees for the birds. Sometimes the county and power company come along and cut the trees down on that side. On Earth day last year they came and butchered all the trees on one side of our yard. I was very upset! esh_ga, yes it is Nebraska. These trees are staying if I can help it. In fact I am going to plant lots more. We also have tons of Mulberry trees for the birds. They share a few berries with me when I am out in the gardens, lol. abgardeneer, our small acrage is not semi-wild, its Wild! Love it! I even saw some Milkweed pods today. Thank you everyone, I appreciate all the great information. Dianne

I think no one has yet mentioned Loquat and Carambolas. The Loquat is amazingly care and is heavily recommended for enviroscaping. It typically bears lots of fruits. The starfruit trees are usually very productive and produce miraculously fruits twice a year. There are many varieties from the very tart to the very sweet. Something I would definitely add to my garden if I had the space is a strawberry tree or Muntingia calabura. It tastes like cotton candy. Really. and looks like a berry. It goes by many names. Jujube is amazing of you can get it to grow. Canistel or egg fruit. Sapote, Sapodilla, Persimons.. Yum Yum Best, Here is a link that might be useful: Strawberry tree

Very possibly shothole fungus, aka Coryneum blight. This is a very common problem with various members of the Prunus genus and seems to be most prevalent in years with mild, wet springs.