Summer Fruit and Flowers

The glorious May weather seems a far away dream now that June is here. Although we have some sunny spells there’s also a lot of rain. I know the garden needs it but not heavy downpours. As I write thunderstorms are expected and the rain is pounding down. Still plenty to enjoy in the garden though so let’s be thankful.

I have a couple of small gooseberry bushes. One was loaded with berries so I decided to harvest. Many people regard gooseberries as sour and unpleasant but if they’re allowed to ripen they are very sweet. Last year I waited too long because I wanted them to ripen to that delicious sweetness but the blackbirds stripped the entire crop before I got to them! I really need to cover the fruit with netting. Although this year’s berries were quite small and certainly not sweetly ripe I picked them and stashed them away in the freezer.

I love gooseberries but the thorns are awful. I picked very carefully and didn’t suffer. In the past I have topped and tailed every single berry before I cooked or froze them. It’s such a tedious job that I decided not to bother this time. I just gave them a good wash in cold water. I’m hoping that when they’re cooked the tiny stalks and withered blossom ends will melt into the background and not spoil them. Fingers crossed!

Gooseberry jam is lovely and turns red as it cooks. Gooseberry tarts are delicious so I will use them for that this year as I don’t have enough for jam.

The cabbages have been used but I left two in to make new growth. I found that if the head is cut off and some outer leaves retained new leaves and sometimes one or two small heads of cabbage form from the cut surface.

These are tender and tasty and extend the crop a bit.

I have two celeriac still in the tunnel and they have sent up flower heads. I’m going to allow them to flower and set seed. It will be interesting to see if they will grow next year from the saved seed.

Meanwhile, this year I’m trying celery for a change. I started the seed in the greenhouse in plugs then I transplanted the seedlings into the polytunnel to grow on. These are a modern self-blanching type which don’t need to be earthed up in the way gardeners did many years ago.

One of the wonderful things about June is the marvellous pleasure of strawberries. The first ones were ready a few days ago and were so delicious. I’m hoping for a big crop again this year so I can fill the freezer with winter treats.

If my memory serves me correctly I grow an old variety called Cambridge Favourite. They are not deep scarlet when ripe but they are really full of flavour and we enjoy them so much. I read that strawberry plants need replacing every three years. Mine are several years old, look very healthy and still producing huge crops, so I don’t worry about that. I just cut off all the old foliage in Autumn and Spring, give them a fresh layer of homemade compost and mulch them when they start growing again.

Flowers are wonderful at any time of year but June is especially delightful. Peonies, poppies, campanulas and foxgloves have taken over the garden now that aquilegias and the Spring show are over. Looking beautiful in sunshine or showers, their colours sing out among the green leaves.

Other lovelies are blossoming as well.

Roses come into their own this month. Always a favourite even though they struggle in our poor sandy soil. I have been feeding them a bit more than I did and they have responded well. I would prefer to use manure but now we’re old we can’t do all that shovelling. I bought pelleted rose food which smells like it’s manure based. It seems to do the trick.

The garden is buzzing with wildlife. I found an eggshell again which I think had been taken by a crow or magpie because it wasn’t where a nest could be. I saw a lovely mullein moth caterpillar on a self-seeded verbascum. Such a lovely creature. I hope it will not be found by the birds and will go underground to complete it’s long stage of development into a moth. Apparently it can be underground for about five years before it is ready. Lots of pollinators about too.

Indoors, I need to think about making space in the freezer for my summer fruits. Rhubarb, strawberries and, later on, apples will be squirrelled away for puddings and jam. I have cooked meat to use up. I freeze slices and then when they’re thawed they make nice patties. I mix them in the food processor with onion, sometimes an apple, breadcrumbs or crusts, and an egg if it needs binding. Shape them with my hands into little flat cakes, then I gently brown them in a little oil in the frying pan. Makes a tasty and satisfying meal. Any left over are good cold the next day with some chutney or sauce.

I’ve finished knitting my jacket. It was a nice straightforward pattern and I was pleased to find it actually fitted. The trouble with knitting something to wear, you can’t try it for size until it’s completely finished and sewn together! Whereas, with dressmaking you can check and adjust as you go. Of course, experienced knitters know that if the tension is correct the pattern should fit but often I don’t bother to check before I start. It usually works out ok. Here is my jacket, knitted in a nice tweed-effect wool mix double knitting.

I haven’t been painting recently. I think I’ve lost a bit of momentum and can’t find an inspiring subject among my photos. Here’s one I did a few years ago. This was drawn and painted with gouache from one of my garden photographs.

With you again in a couple of weeks. I hope the summer will be a happy time for you all. Bye for now.