I love this time of year, there is a real sense of anticipation in the air. We had no late frost, so the fruit harvest should be excellent. Our huge Bramley, above, is already groaning with tiny fruits, and as with all bounteous years we'll be wondering what to do with it all.
These, above, are Greengages. A strange plum that, when truly ripe, is so sweet that I can't eat them. I'm obliged to catch them when they're still slightly crisp, when they are delicious. Unfortunately they are much loved by some winged creature which tends to leave a small grub in each fruit.
We shall also be having barrow-loads of Quinces,
Quite a few Pears,
And of course buckets-full of grapes.
Still, I'm not complaining. I just wish I could encourage those who have less fruit to come round and take some. People are very reluctant; or maybe they just don't know how to deal with it all.
I have blue sky envy.
ReplyDeletePlease send me some.
Any.
Hurry.
It does look like a good harvest is on the cards. Yes, the blue sky does look good - ours has finally turned to rain during the day and it is a bit on the nippy side.
ReplyDeleteI should have also included pix of the junior Peaches and Cherries, but I was in a hurry.
ReplyDeleteYou are so far ahead of us we are still in the flower stage. I love the butteriness of greengages my favourite plums but unfortunately the wasps love them also.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit too far to pop in and ask for some fruit...if I were closer I possibly would - it all sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe joy of anticipation! It all looks marvellous.
ReplyDeleteThe calm before the storm of bugs, slugs, and beasties!
DeleteI'm with Libby! We'd be there in a second. I've a notion to try my hand at quince jelly and can't find any fruit hereabouts.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of Greengages - can you make wine out of them? You can start a new craze similar to tequila with a worm in it; you can produce Greengage wine with a grub in the bottle! -- Jan
ReplyDeleteThey would probably make very good 'Eau-de-Vie'.
DeleteWish I was your neighbor! I would take those over-sweet, over-ripe plums off your hands and make some wine (or whatever it is called.) I was told by a wine expert that plum wine is not wine. But it sure is good!
ReplyDeleteHmmm..gazing into my crystal ball I predict....many days of canning and preserving. I wish I lived next door. There would be no issue with helping you dispose of some of your bounty.
ReplyDeleteI think the latter Cro. I find that if I put a surfeit of any fruit or veg out at the gate for people to take, very few help themselves. If I am in the garden and invite them they usually say they wouldn't know what to do with it.
ReplyDeleteI was once in the supermarket queue behind a mother and child. The mother said to the child, "I've forgotten the potatoes - can you go and get some for me?" The child returned with a huge bag of frozen chips!
Incidentally - I love that rag rug too - £500 is how much she wants for it.
they're all looking good. Our Discovery apple tree is loaded with blossom this year so hoping for a good crop too
ReplyDeleteOn my petit balcony I have 2 courgette plants, 3 tomato plants and 4 strawberry plants - all looking very shivery in this weather! I hope our harvest is as good as yours looks like it will be! It doesn't help that the cats seem to like the greenery and have taken to biting the leaves...The lobelia has only one flower remaining!
ReplyDeleteIt looks really promising! If there would be a trip to Dordogne this summer I would let you know :-)
ReplyDelete