Saturday, July 9, 2011

pretty as a picture

We have been experimenting in making our photos into watercolurs so I can put them with my collection of favoutite poems, this photo from one corner of our plot was so pretty I thought I would share it.

good enough to eat

It's that time of year when all that preparation and sowing and planting in April and May, comes to fruition. We have already had a bumper harvest of strawberries most of which we have turned into jam which we are eating with home made scones and clotted cream.....yummy!
Lots of our other veggies are now ready. Broad beans have been double podded and either frozen or added to risotto, beetroot is being cooked and used in salads not to mention lollo rosso and cos lettuce. The peas are coming along as well as runner beans, tomatoes, leeks, potatoes (early and mains) together with courgettes. On that subject I must take issue with Monty Don (yes, I know all you ladies only watch Gardeners World because he is the presenter) but he suggested that courgettes could be grown at the bottom of the bean wigwams. This is just not practical as it is very difficult to harvest them, or indeed to see if they are ready at all as the beans foliage gets in the way. Think again Monty! The corn is not quite as high as an elephants eye, but it is getting there. Today we picked our first raspberries which are being used for a new recipe fresh raspberry and lemon squares which is coming out of the oven as I write. We have goosegogs for crumbles, cobblers and fools in fact enough for all year. However, after saying all that, Plum's favourite are the sweet peas which represent the smell of Summer even though you can't eat 'em!