The fruits of early summer
About two years ago, we planted a pomegranate tree in our greenhouse. It looks great with rich green leaves but so far there was no sign of any fruit looming.
That was until last Sunday, when I had a peek and saw what looked like a bud. I got so excited and I am tending to it like a family patient who needs some special care.
I shared a photo on my Facebook page (Bia Sásta) and got a comment from an Australian girl in Bantry who said that the pomegranate needs quite dry ground and a lot of sun. I can’t do much about the sun but the rest is a doodle.
My herb garden is in full swing as well and I even got hold of a wild woodruff plant. I need to read up more about how to care for it but I am hoping that I will be able to make cordial next spring from it.
Woodruff cordial is a big deal in Germany and one of the few things I miss from living there. In summer, I would drink something called Berliner weisse – a sour beer and it is either mixed with raspberry or woodruff cordial.
An utter delight – trust me on this one.
Looking at my fruit trees, we will be in for a treat this year as the pear and apple trees are showing the first fruit. My plum tree on the other hand seems to be on holiday with nothing to show yet.
A few years ago, we got a hazelnut tree from my lovely sister-in-law Breda that is going strong but no nuts have shown up yet. I also learned that hazelnut trees are a great source for truffles. Not mine though unfortunately.
A friend of mine gave me a fruit bush of a mix between gooseberry and something else (should have written it down) which is hanging full of fruit this year as well as my redcurrant bushes – now it is a battle between us and the birds who get to them first.
My elderflower tree is slow in going into full bloom – I am watching it like a hawk to get to the blossoms as soon as possible. It is located in a shady area and hence has been a bit slow.
My mum’s strawberries are still going strong and have forgiven us the move to a new location.
Growing your own food makes you aware of the seasons in a much better way than looking at what is in shops.
It makes you appreciate the first strawberry you pick, the first apple you bite into and the delight of the first elderflower blossoms.
You don’t get that from going to the shop, you only get that from your own kitchen garden.
Nothing can compare to that.
I am a lucky duck as I grew up with a father who grew almost our entire vegetable needs and raised chickens, rabbits, geese and ducks so we always had good meat – I think the only reason we didn’t have pigs was the fact that it wasn’t allowed where we lived.
Now I have my wonderful Mr T who makes sure that some of our food is grown in our garden.
All I have to do is prepare tasty meals from our produce – challenge accepted.