Tuesday 3 July 2012

A very special dinner and a garden update

Yesterday I had a special dinner for one. Was this in celebration of anything? Well yes it was really. It was a celebration of own produce. I had a glass of my home made limoncello to start with, then a glass of home made elderflower cordial to accompany my own home grown salad (first ever food pickings from the garden), home made chutney and home made bread. I added some cheese and some corned beef and I was happy as larry to feel that I was finally beginning to taste what food can be like when you have spent your own time growing, making and concocting.



Notice all my bottles of elderflower cordial in the background.

It was an immensely satisfying time.

My garden is loving this rainy weather it seems. I guess because I am on a hill I have lovely very well drained soil so all this rain is just simply making the plants very happy. It all looks lush, green and beautiful.


Happy tomatoes, finally and rosemary.

 My blurry basket of pea shoots, grown specially for salad from the leftover pea seeds.



I'm growing ivy around a ball of wire coathangers. Hopefully one day, when they are all trained around it will look pretty.


An old bread bin filled with my cut and come again salad.




Plum tree, happy but a year or so off having fruit, and my rescued lupins in the background.



It going to be a great crop of potatoes.


Climbing rose (Zepherine Drouhin) covered in buds.



Rose (Tess of the D'Urbivilles) going to look glorious when they open.


And my small golden wedding rose in the front.



The rhubarb has taken nicely, I've been warned not to use it in the first year, but it looks so tasty........



And finally, my bramley apple tree. Looking great.

I am thrilled with the way everything has come on for my first season here. There are other glorious plants, such as the enormous purple geranium that has just come into magnificent flower and all the peas are in flower now and will soon be providing their sweet wonderful taste into my salads

Tomorrow morning I am going away again, this time, Warwickshire, Dorset and Oxfordshire. Home Saturday night after another very late drive from Oxford. Only home for one day this time though :-(

22 comments:

  1. I think that is totally the best feeling, the satisfaction of knowing that you are eating or drinking something you have produced yourself, enjoy :)

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  2. after reading your blog title I thought you had had a "romantic" date!
    congratulations on the produce... you'll have a pig in the back garden soon!

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  3. Nothing tastes better than your own grown produce. The taste is worth all the work and as is the satisfaction of being able to produce such glorious fruits, veggies and preserves. Good luck on your travels and be safe x x

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  4. Nothing beats the fresh from your own garden taste!
    Jane x

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    Replies
    1. I look forward to more and more of it.

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  5. I'm typing this with a big smile on my face, you sound very happy enjoying the fruits of your labor. Awesome! :-)

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    Replies
    1. Very very happy. Wish I had grown even more stuff now.

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  6. I love when we eat our own grown produce, also love meals for one- such a peaceful time, I should be getting one this weekend when the children go to their Dads :-)

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    1. there is a certain peace in it, pleasing yourself. Soon I am getting a kitchen table too at last, even better.

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  7. Nothing beats your first home grown produce. Enjoy. Safe travelling!

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  8. Wow, your garden looks fabulous. That rhubarb has taken really well. There is something incredibly satisfying about growing and eating your own - you're going to have lots to look forward to in the coming months.

    Tawney

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    1. The rhubarb has grown incredibly over the last 4 days. I am very tempted to use it - a nice crumble

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  9. My garden's been a wash out this year so I've enjoyed seeing pictures of yours thriving, it will help to tide me over until I try again next year as it's a reminder that things can actually grow!

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    1. I think I am lucky, because being on a hill I have very well drained soil, will get really dry in sunny weather, but just keeps lovely and moist in all this rain without getting waterlogged.

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  10. That's awesome! :) Hope you enjoy your crop! Looks like you'll have enough to last you nicely there!

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    Replies
    1. The only thing that is spoiling the crop are the damned slugs.

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  11. I've been reading your posts and thought I'd come out of the shadows and say hello.
    You can't better the feeling of eating the first harvest.
    I look forward to reading of your adventure.

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    1. Hello Kittyboo and welcome. glad you are enjoying my adventures.

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