Saturday 27 August 2011

Late Summer Harvest in the Garden

The seasons have been strange and out of kilter this year. Summer days of warm sunshine came in April and May. By the end of July, summer seemed almost over. Now, as August limps out towards its last days, autumn is well and truly here. Trees are yellowing. Some of those most affected by the lack of early rain are dry, almost bare and may be dying. A huge old ash in our neighbour`s garden looks unlikely to survive.

Garden fruit is ripening early too. This week I have been picking pears before they drop. Today I harvested some apples from trees in the little wild orchard. I have cooked some and will give some away. The freezer is full.

These green dessert apples are crisp and juicy.


The first of the Bramley cookers.


I have been making jam in recent weeks. Small batches from fruit that needs using quickly. We have wholemeal toast and jam for breakfast, so this will be a good store for the months ahead.



Crab apples are falling fast, or being shaken from the tree by magpies and squirrels while rabbits and blackbirds feast on ripening fruit in the grass. There are plenty left on the tree, so I may try making crab apple and elderberry jelly this year.


Elderberry clusters are hanging heavy with their dark, jet-jewelled fruit.

There are still enough salad leaves for a fresh supply.


Runner beans....


...and broad beans are growing well..........


....but this is the only poor, sad little courgette of the summer!


13 comments:

Unknown said...

All looks wonderful... you cant beat fresh fruit and veg fresh fron the garden.
I love crab apple jelly and make some whenever I can find the fruit, its nice with cheese.

Vicky x

ChrisJ said...

Since all the seasons are pushing in earlier, maybe spring will come in early next year! Wouldn't that be nice.

helen tilston said...

Your garden is a delight and so much fruit. I have just found your blog and am thrilled to read of your walks and I cannot wait to read your past posts. Your new follower, I look forward to knowing you
Helen

angryparsnip said...

Your garden is wonderful. How delightful that in the cold winter you can have some summer to keep you happy.

Lovely photos.

cheers, parsnip

Kath said...

Well you just about summed up our weather this year LOL

Lots of lovely produce. Husband is chomping at the bit to make some raised beds. Getting rid of the brambles is proving a bit harder than he thought!

Anonymous said...

You have a very productive garden. I boiled up some crab apples and chillis earlier, they are now dripping into a bowl in readiness for making a pink jelly.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Funnily enough - our courgettes have not done well either. I have made enough jam and pickle to feed an army but it is always nice to have some to give away.

WOL said...

My dad would go nuts over your pears. They look delicious. I see you are bringing out the trusty Bonne Maman jars. I've got about a dozen squirreled away -- I'm trying to convince my mom that we should make some marmalade -- one of the clubs she's in has a Christmas auction as a fund raiser. Your lovely green apples made me remember a recipe I've got for apple dumplings.

Pam said...

That all looks very delicious and wholesome.

I love your Chawton posts. I am a great fan of JA and have always wanted to to there, but it's not that handy for Edinburgh. Her table! Wow.

I wonder if they really had herbaceous borders then. Hmm. She never mentions them. Shrubberies, yes. Still, jolly pretty!

Mum said...

It's all go at this time of year isn't it? Not wanting anything to go to waste from Nature's bounty. What happened to your courgettes? Poor little thing!
Love from Mum
xx

Amanda said...

You've got some great things growing there. I'm planning to start growing some veg this/next year. Unfortunately due lack of space they'll only be in containers.

Karen said...

And our summer has been one of the absolute hottest in years. I only have a fig tree which I expected to wilt in the onslaught, but was pleasantly surprised to get the breva and second crop out of it. Of course, the figs went to the chipmunks, but there is always next year.

With it going back to the 90's the beginning of September, it doesn't look like fall here in North Carolina anytime soon.

rachel said...

That's courgettes for you - one or a barrowload. They do it on purpose to torment us....