Press Gang

Having a couple of grandchildren spare we decide to set them to work

collecting the windfalls

Chopping them up

Setting up the press

and screwing it down

We even let them taste a little of the result

Migrants Welcome

Two days ago the first Starlings arrived, and then today…

The Fieldfares dropped in

Took their bearings

and tried to decide what to do next.

The Inbetween Times

It hasn’t really felt like full on Autumn yet. One or two misty mornings.

Many flowers still keep going

We grew a lot of annuals from seed this year and it seemed to take months to get them to flowering stage. But now they have arrived they are slow to leave

Lots of sun around

Lighting up the colours

from a distance, the trees are only tinged with colour. Needs a closer look to find the glow

More apples to pick

Once the Hydrangea gets going it sits in the wood and glows for months

So we enjoy this inbetween time

and keep one eye on the future

The Red Flag is still flying here

Daylight is dwindling, swallows are leaving, apples are falling but down at the “Lake”

Hesperantha coccinea, the Major Crimson Flag, continues to hold up its head.

It flies as a finishing flag

Last call for our bees to gather nectar

Last call for the Rudder Darter to pause and soak up warmth

Last call for the Lily to squeeze out one more flower

It does not seem long ago we were fretting about low water levels but now the Lake is full

and reflecting the blue skies

Whatever the season, it is a place of striking shapes

and ever-changing reflections

Sweet October

Today the sun shone

and our bees ventured out.

Time to go on a hunt.

We grew Sweet Corn for the first time two years ago, starting with a mini variety which we planted in the polytunnel. It was so lovely we went for a a bigger type last year. We still used the tunnel thinking it was a delicate species, rather foolishly as large fields of the stuff are grown commercially not far from here. The cobs were not good and the plants nearly pierced their way through the roof.

To this year, more sensibly, we planted outside

and this wilted tassel is a sign or readiness.

The Hunter’s Moon is nearly full

and we are pleased with our Sweet Corn hunting.

Tree to Glass

It is apple harvest time

We inherited a small selection of apple trees and have added some ourselves. Each Autumn the Apple Man arrives with his van full of boxes from the orchards of England. It was he who named our inherited stock and today we made a start on the Norfolk Royal tree.

We filled one box with large unblemished fruit worth storing but we also had a lot of grade two apples

So we set to work

Chopped up

In for a quick scrat

Broken down

Into the press

Trickling out

The apples were quite hard but a 25 litre tub of fruit yielded about ten litres of juice

On the tree this morning, in our glass this evening

Tomato Testing

It is that time of year when we look at some of our tomato crop

and decide which varieties are worth growing again.

This year we did some research and tried to identify some tomatoes which have a low number of “days” – the time from flowering to ripe fruit. Even so, it has not been a good year for our crop, both the amount of fruit and the degree of ripening have not been the best.

We had to track down the seed for Crushed Heart on eBay as it does not seem to be available commercially

We will grow this again (from our own saved seed)

Another new find we will grow again is Costoluto Fiorentino

because they are an exciting shape, if for no the reason.

Another visually exciting variety is Tigerella

He haven’t grown many large varieties in recent years but Black Russian we will sow again

Black Cherry

we are not so sure about. They have not properly ripened even though they look exciting.

Other varieties from this year which will grow again are

Black Opal

Brandy Boy

Ildi

Matina

Red Cherry

Roma

Sungold

and Sweet Aperitif

while, after growing it for several years, we are giving up on Ailsa Craig.

Any suggestions for things to try are very welcome…