All the citrus trees have been in blossom these last weeks – oranges, cumquats, mandarins and lemons, ensuring the garden is filled with their heady perfume (which is truly one of my favourite scents of all). Sadly though, we’re nearing the end of the lemon season, and I’m just hoping to stretch out another batch or two of elderflower cordial with the last of the Lisbons on the tree.
Solomon’s Seal gave a pretty display of tiny green-tipped bells the length of its many fine rods near the garden gate ’til those few days of intense heat.
To me, it’s always the first flush of any flower in season that’s best. This last week has seen my favourite white Philadelphus Beau Clerk smothered in intoxicatingly scented, simple white buds and flowers nestled into fresh green foliage, setting off the first Abraham Darby roses. Backed by the hedge of Juniper in the Barn Garden, it’s a short-lived display that I look forward to with such anticipation each year.
The first flush of artichokes were plucked, poached and photographed for the book one fine day last week, while the second have also been dealt with – while I love their exquisite form in the garden and colourful purple-tinged spectacle during the preparation process (and their taste – too delicious), preparation of a third flush is likely to test my patience!
Which brings me to the last of the broad beans and oh what a glut at the end! It seemed to be a short-lived season this year, probably due to the intense period of heat we experienced and the main event occurred in a rush. I picked on the Sunday afternoon before last, after which they seemed to overtake the entire fridge! Desperate to clear the shelves, I managed to shell them over two evenings and finally blanched and double-peeled them last night! Oh what a great big job (and prune fingers!). Anyway, they’re ready now to make into favourite broad bean puree (to photograph and then to eat) – I still use Anastasia’s recipe from the first cooking class she gave here and look forward to this moment of great excitement each year!
A couple of weeks ago I took the opportunity to make the Christmas Cake….
Which looks like a beauty!
The potatoes went in (do you think they’ll be ready in time for Cooking the Glenmore Christmas Lunch????!!!!)
And I pulled the last of the winter/spring veg from the earth….
Amidst all the hullabaloo and froufrou that spring can bring, it’s often the most simple discovery that brings a moment’s joy, like this Iceberg against the exposed brick chimney-breast at the Dairy….
And delight of all delights – yesterday the Chinese Star jasmine exploded into flower en masse, suggesting summertime is nigh (though you sure wouldn’t know it today!).