May – a month of blossom and Bank Holidays! Usually a lovely month, so gently warm and pleasant before the heat of Summer sets in.
The garden continues to produce it’s seasonal treasures but the last frost had some damaging effects. The rhododendron was looking fabulous but a night of frost followed by early morning sun ruined the flowers. In it’s old position it was never a problem but I think its new home at the bottom of the garden presents two extremes. The cold air falls down to that point and then the bush is exposed quickly to the full heat of the sun which thaws it too rapidly. I knew that was a problem with camellias but never expected it to be an issue with the rhododendron. Do we struggle with the heavy pot and splayed rhododendron to put it back in it’s old home or do we protect it next year when frost is forecast? Will think about that one.
Other shrubs are blooming. The Berberis has been a picture, the Skimmia has pink flowers and the Pieris has lovely, tiny bell flowers in graceful clusters.
My clematis “Freda” is a bit reluctant to put on a show this year but she does have a few lovely flowers.
The main apple blossom is only just beginning but the crab apple is just glorious right now. Whereas general apple blossom is an exquisite pale pink, this is a blaze of crimson petals, especially when the late afternoon sun falls on it.
Forget-me-nots are popping up all over the place along with some sneaky dandelions.
Lipstick red tulips are making a splash.
More restrained pleasures are delighting here and there.
Colchicums, known as Autumn Crocus, though they’re not really crocuses, are sending up their large fleshy leaves. It’s a curious plant which grows leaves in Spring, without flowers, and flowers in Autumn without leaves! The leaves are huge and very obvious. Not particularly decorative but the fabulous flowers later make it worthwhile having them.
Butterflies are appearing now. Orange Tip males and tiny Holly Blues are flitting about. The blues are very skittish and rarely land for a decent photo but I managed to capture a shot of a lovely Orange Tip as he rested on a flower.
Other signs of life included a snail with a beautiful shell and a curious insect on the house wall basking in the sun. It had a pointy, raised shape on its back just on the shoulder area. Looked a bit menacing but interesting!
In the vegetable garden things are coming along nicely. I grow purple mustard leaves for salad but they were growing rapidly and I didn’t want them to go to waste. I tried cutting off a bunch and steaming them and they were really good, very much like kale. Easy salad crops and they grow very quickly while I’m waiting for lettuce.
Also plenty to do indoors. I had an idea for a new cake recipe. Tried it out and was pleased with the result, so here it is.
Orange and Pecan Squares 1 Orange 50g Pecan Nuts (+ a few halves for decoration) 200g Caster Sugar 4 large Eggs 200g Self-raising Flour 2 teaspoons Baking Powder 15g Wheat Bran 200g Sunflower Oil Grease a roasting tin, approximately 30 x 25cm (12 x 10 inches) Scrub the orange, then grate it. Squeeze the juice from half. Break the 50g of pecans into small pieces. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan oven. Put the ingredients, including juice, into a bowl and mix well. Spread in the roasting tin. Drop pecan halves on the top of the mixture to decorate. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes. Test centre with a skewer. If it comes out cleanly it's done.
Grating can be an uncomfortable activity! If you hate grated knuckles try to find a grater like mine which has a smoother side. Just as effective but no injuries.
More easy and delicious cake recipes in my Earthy Homemaker’s Cookbook.
You’ll find it with this link.
When I bake cakes I rinse the eggshells and put them at the bottom of the oven while the cakes are cooking. It’s a gardening trick I picked up somewhere a few years ago. I do this so that I can easily pulverise the shells to add to the compost bin or sprinkle into my tomato bed for a calcium feed. I have a wooden tool for doing this but putting them into a bag and bashing them with a hammer works very well. They break down so easily when they’ve baked. I have mentioned this gardening tip before but perhaps worth saying again.
Even though I rinse the egg shells, sometimes the white sticks to the dish during baking. So I fill the dish with warm water and add soap powder; dissolves it all and no need for scrubbing. This works for all baked-on residues after baking or roasting. Works like magic!
Had an urge to paint a picture so I’ve started one. Colourful pansies in a pot. I drew it from a photo I took in the garden last year, outlined the flowers with pen and now I’m painting it with gouache. Enjoyable and absorbing. Will share it when it’s complete.
With you again next week. Happy gardening, baking or relaxing in the meantime. Bye for now.
Living a contented creative life. 