I believe we are to dust off our BBQ's, or so we were told in the papers. Oh yes! Well, this morning the rain is hammering down and it looks like there is plenty more to come. And here was I thinking I was going to spend a leisurely day soaking up the last of the Autumn sun. Still, it might improve later ......hopefully.
Down on the plot, yesterday, I started on the great autumn clear up, tidying away the netting I'd discarded near the compost bins and, at the front of my plot, taking down the wigwams that had supported the morning glories and ornamental gourds. I've saved quite a few morning glory seeds, but plenty more have fallen to the ground, so if they germinate I will have the same problem I have with the nasturtiums which keep popping up all over the place. It's not such a problem really, as I just pull up those I don't wish to keep, but it appears that I will be forever challenged in my efforts to plan a particular colour scheme. Still, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, it was never meant to be that I should go all 'good taste' this year, with my pale greens and whites. It would not have looked half as good without the rogue nasturtiums. So, back to the drawing board for next year. Although I've had a bumper crop of ornamental gourds, which did bring a little more colour to the flower bed, I intend to give them a miss next year. So, it was just as well I harvested them all in the dry yesterday. Half of them are still in my shed, as I'd never have managed to carry them all, due to the weight, but the other half are now on the conservatory floor, where I hope we'll get enough sun and warmth to dry them out. Once dried out and arranged in a large bowl or basket, they look good as a table decoration. Are they edible? Well, according to what I've read 'no' as they can be very hard and rather bitter. I've also learned that they can cross-pollinate with edible gourds (squash), making them bitter too. I'm hoping this hasn't happened to my Blue Hubbards!
Although I'm still bringing home the last of the courgettes, I greedily accepted an overgrown one from Grant, as he didn't want it. Last night we enjoyed a mini stuffed marrow - just big enough for two of us, and very tasty it was too. This was followed by apple and raspberry crumble. I think the raspberry production is gradually slowing down, but what a wonderful year we've had with them, and for all the other fruit too. It will be a scone making session this morning, the results to be enjoyed with lots of home made raspberry jam and plenty of cream. Delicious! Our youngest son is coming for lunch, so I'd better get cracking, otherwise he wont be sampling any.
Seems to be brightening up, so I'd better get on with the baking.
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