Tuesday 15 September 2015

foraging

 

As summer slips into autumn, it is a time of picking and preserving... and picking some more. 
My favourite wild damson tree in a hedgerow a few fields away was laden with fruit. A carrier bag full was promptly turned into damson chutney, followed by a batch of damson jam.

 


  

The plum tree in the allotment has had a wonderful year, with more fruit than ever before. The boys have been climbing up it to reach the sweetest fruits up in the top of the tree. We have picked and picked - eaten lots straight from the tree, given boxfulls away, made plum jam and plum chutney and even sold some in punnets on the doorstep with an honesty jar - and the tree is still laden! 

  


 In recent years I have made a small batch of elderberry syrup which is particularly good for those winter colds (a little with mixed with some hot water is very soothing).



 I do love hedgerow foraging...



Saturday 12 September 2015

the copper beech in september





 


The copper beech is beginning to take on darker tones as the season begins to slip into autumn. The light is hazy in the misty mornings.

The first of the leaves are falling, and the beech nuts are growing.

Joining in with Loose and Leafy's 'Tree Following'

Previous Tree Following posts here


Tuesday 1 September 2015

the last summer adventure - Cadair Idris

 

 


 

 

 



 

Making the most of the last few days of the summer holidays;
Up in the mountains;
Carpets of heather;
Big skies;
Rolling clouds enveloping the craggy summit;
Time with friends.