Meteorological autumn started on the 1st September and autumness is being embraced by fauna, flora and weather with unseemly eagerness. Temperatures are dropping, and the weather lurches from dismal to awful, with quick hints of sun in between. Yesterday we were due storms in the afternoon, but needed to spend a few money off vouchers, so didn't get to the place in the country until the rain had started, while thunder rumbled around. We were lucky, actually, to be there and not at home, where there were strong wind squalls, nearly three times the amount of rain, and hail. While the barn cats munched their way through their feed, oblivious to the weather, I watched the rain and then checked the lightning strike web page.
There's not much by way of mellow fruitfulness about either. The berries are rotting on the canes almost before they ripen and the pears are over - not enough for a burping barrel either! There are apples - the Reine de Reinettes are falling and are quite tasty. I need to burrow into the Bel de Boskoop to find any there, while the Granny Smiths will hold for ages. The Canada juicing apples are rotting, then falling, so I fear for the trees if the marauding boar decide they like cider. We had hoped for a single variety juice pressing this year, but if we do one at all, I think it will be mixed. The quince are also a disappointment, as they have missed out on the heat and sunshine they need to develop to their full size and become fragrant. They are falling! I will have to try to make jelly, but I don't think they will be up to tagine or slow cooked quince standard sadly.
Also in stark contrast to last year, we can only spot 5 fruits on the cristophine vine, despite it being even bigger than last year! It also misses the heat and sunshine though it does enjoy a good deluge.
The cyclamen in the lawn have been later to flower than normal - about 3 weeks later if I recall correctly. I had hoped that the delay might at least mean a full carpet of them around the birch tree. I may be jaded and depressed with this year, but it seems to me that they too are less bountiful, although new corms have started to produce flowers in far flung areas of the garden.
We are hoping for a decent year for mushrooms, with all the water that there is around. A walk around the One Acre Wood today showed that there are things popping up, but not interesting edible things so far.
We have found a first bolete, but not where it should be. There was one growing in the lettuce bed, which I picked, but as there is no oak or chestnut in the Garden area, just a rather large birch tree, I did not risk cooking it. It could well have been fine, but when picking wild mushrooms, any doubt at all and it goes on the compost heap.
The Marx Sisters have settled in well, and at least two of them have started to lay rather cute small eggs. Groucho is a greedy so and so and likes to climb into trees and onto tables. This can be disconcerting. Harpo bumbles on in her own happy way, and seems to have been the one to come into lay first. Chico is a bit more of a loner and likes to fly. Specifically, she likes to fly at my back when I am walking away from her, which is a bit worrying. Perhaps in a former life, she was an eagle.
I have had another major session with my new strimmer, using the brushcutter head this time, and have a number of projects with that. More to follow in the coming weeks. I also probably ought to shuffle the trail cameras around, so again something for another week.
Until next time!
Comments