Prince sang about a girl wearing a raspberry beret as a symbol of a free spirit and independence. Fashion certainly has that effect, and we’re pretty sure the High Priest of Pop wasn’t singing about self-sustainable farming practices. At the same time, it wouldn’t be disingenuous to suggest a simple thing like a wild raspberry bush could also symbolize freedom and independence.

And did you know? Conesus Lake House‘s garden pathway features several rows of wild black raspberry bushes. The Lake was always known by the Seneca people and its first European settlers as “berry place,” and it shows: juicy sweet and tart berries have been feeding Lake-goers for hundreds of years.

So when you stay at Conesus Lake House in early to mid-July, these black raspberries are ripe for the picking — and they’re all yours. Farm stay? Maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but how about a black raspberry stay? Grab a bowl from the convenient kitchen, head out the back door to the garden, and gather your breakfast without relying on the supermarket. Start your day with a handful of black raspberries, a cup of complimentary coffee, and a gorgeous view of Conesus Lake. We think you’ll fall in love just like Prince.