It only takes a smidge of Oregon soil for plants to thrive here. This blackberry bush has been growing out of the concrete median for months. It finally made berries!
Life, uh, finds a way. If that was in my neighborhood I'd be worried that there was not only car detritus on it (exhaust scum, tire rubber, random metal bits, etc.), but also dog detritus.
I often walk close to roads for a while in shorts. You wouldn't believe the disgusting grease that washes down my legs when I shower after that. Big roads are vile to be around.
My hatred of blackberries is unending. I'm angry enough that I have to mow the grass, but there is nothing I loathe more than having to regularly take a machete to the encroaching mass of thorny monsters that are invading my yard and attempting to make it uninhabitable by my children. If I was given the option to make any species of any living thing immediately extinct, I would choose blackberries without a moment's hesitation, and then throw a party to celebrate the oppression I've been freed from.
I took back a half acre of those things. Believe me when I say that I am 100% with you. I wish a blight wipes them out so much. If you are able, digging up the ball root makes removing them easier. They are almost impossible to eradicate but if you can get the root ball out, they are totally weakened. I bought a pawn shop weed eater and those plastic blades. I went through so many blades and the weed eater died a sad long death.