Showing posts with label Our Garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Our Garden. Show all posts

Thursday, August 17, 2017

August Harvest


Well, it's been almost a month and a half since I last posted, and, in that time, there's been a host of hearty harvests that have graced 
our table, like the platter of sweet, precious figs, above, 


from our one and only fig tree, planted by my husband's father,
 who was a farmer, over sixty years ago, on the outskirts 
of the village in which he was born and grew up.

 

The 'fruits of his labour',
 we are still enjoying, today.


It was very hot, the day we picked the figs, and looking 
up towards the sun to pluck each one from its stem, was
stressful on the eyes, but worth the effort, in the end.

 

   What proved to be more of a challenge, for me, was the rough
 and rocky road back to the car, as I struggled to keep my balance, fearing a flip with every little slip, unlike my husband, whose footsteps seemed to fit perfectly between each pebbly crack and cranny!  


Earlier, we had stopped by the three loaded
walnut trees, to give them a good watering, in
 preparation for their collection, next month.


It's the obvious difference in the shape of their leaves 
that assists in the distinction of each, since from afar, 
these two golden green globes look almost identical!

Facing north, towards the sea, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, zucchini and cucumbers

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, our veggie 
garden is finally in full swing, after a late start.

Facing south, a variety of tomatoes

Due to our neighbour's towering Leyland Cypresses,
an entire side of our garden, unfortunately, does not
get enough sunlight for veggies or flowers to thrive,
so we planted in the field across the cement wall,

In the background, just before all the dry weeds begin, green onions, most of which 
will be yanked to dry in the sun, then roughly braided and used as cooking onions.





where our little chapel of St. Irene can be found,
 overlooking all the pretty produce in progress.

Clockwise, from top left: lemons, plums, pomegranates and tomatoes

 Our fruit trees are also flourishing! And, since 
tomatoes are technically considered fruit, I 
included them in the collage above. 


Our lemon tree did not disappoint; a second series of blossoms
 a little while ago, freshly scented the breeze and now the fruit
provides tangy, citrus accents in roasts, cakes and cookies.


I hope you've enjoyed reading about our August harvest, this year. We are blessed to have such healthy, organic fare at our fingertips, although, I admit, my  husband deserves all the credit for digging, planting, watering, weeding and worrying about it! I merely whip up a dish with whatever bundle of beautiful, earthy goodness he gathers.


Simple, seasonal, local food (and you can't get any more 
local than your own garden), is, by far, the most exquisite.


What's growing in your garden?
 Thanks for visiting!
xo
Poppy 

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Sunday, May 28, 2017

Spring Collection


Hello friends,

It has not been a typical spring here on the island this year. We've had a little more rain than usual, sun showers, really, which of course, are just as great for all my potted pretties as they are for me, since I can skip a watering session or two. The above bouquet, consisting of pink daisies, white carnations, scented and pink geraniums and everlasting flowers (Helichrysum siculum) came from my garden. Isn't it sweet? 


I wonder, do you think Kathleen Kelly
whose taste I admire greatly, would agree?

Laurel in the background, and everlasting flowers in the foreground, border our garden.

Surely, she'd light up at the sight of these cheery, yellow lovelies, 
for they look like mini daisy trees, don't they? 

   Two weeks ago                                                                                       Now                        

Here's how some flowers are doing at this time, about
 two weeks after I planted them. I just happen to cut 
a bunch of daisies for various vases around the house. 

Two weeks ago                                                                                     Now                         

The yellow marigolds have really taken off! They are bright
pom poms of sunshine, even on the gloomiest days.

 

Some of you may recognize these bold, red beauties if you happen to live in a Mediterranean type climate or if you follow me on Instagram, where I posted this pic earlier in the week. Our tree is loaded with these twinkly bulbs at present. I find them to be some of the most exquisite blossoms that exist, and their fruit, which is ripe for harvest in the fall, is one of the world's super foods. Can you guess what they are?


Yes! Pomegranates!


Next to the pomegranate tree stands the loquat tree, which, as you can see, is full of ripe fruit, ready for picking. I had never seen this exotic fruit until I came to Crete. I still prefer peaches, apricots and plums to loquats, but the Cretans love them, and so does Liberty!

 

 The orange marigolds have also multiplied! They are the
 'sunset' to their yellow cousins' 'sunrise' slate of colours.


Although this is not my backyard, I wanted to show you the spectacular landscape where we collect our oregano every spring. It's on the outskirts of the mountainous village of Rogdia, which means 'pomegranate', as hundreds of trees bearing the fruit populate its space. The rocky terrain, above, is


also fortified with views to the sea and Panagia Bay. 
The city of Heraklion can be seen in the far distance.


Washed and ready to be separated and set down
 flat to dry completely, this popular Mediterranean 
herb will lend its unique aroma to many of our 
favourite dishes throughout the year. 
What's growing in your garden?


I hope you enjoyed my 'spring collection'. 
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend,

xo
Poppy


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Monday, September 29, 2014

Elementary, My Dear Watson

Undercover Cat, Prince Richard, (P.R., for short), prepares for duty.

Good Day, Poppy View Readers, 

P.R., here, Private InvestiCATor, at your service. Poppy asked me to take you on a little tour of the garden, to reveal the identities of those puzzling personalities she introduced you to a few days ago.  Just before you got here, a little bird, (my trusty, canary confidant), told me that Poppy's previous post had left you rather perplexed! Rest assured, you're in good hands. After all, I live with the woman, (and between you and me, she's a bit of an enigma, herself!)...Ahem...Right this way, ladies, watch your step...
 

Let's take another look at that red striped sack, shall we? 
Upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that the bag
 is densely packed with some sort of egg shaped pieces. 

Walnuts, drying in the Cretan sun.

Kudos to those who guessed 'walnuts', since the
  answer was practically dropped into your lap, with
 the phrase, 'a hard nut to crack', in the description.

Walnut harvest: a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it!

Have you ever seen walnuts in their fruity form? 
These were manually shaken from a few trees that Poppy's 
mother-in-law planted many years ago. They were collected, hulled, rinsed several times in cold water, and finally left in the sun to dry completely. Poppy has promised to make a traditional walnut cake; (after all, it's the least she could do for teasing you so, wouldn't you agree?).

Late September, 2014

These raddish lookalikes, which some of you referred 
to as 'thingamabobs', and 'thingamajics', are actually...

 

 budding  flowers! I, myself would
 have guessed some kind of tropical fruit.

Far left: star jasmine, mid July 2014

Yet, here they are; sweetly scented stars  among a 
herbaceous cast of sage, rosemary, thyme, mint, laurel,
 and lavender. Yes, Trachelospermum jasminoides, 
more commonly known as star jasmine, is what those 
carbon copy, kumquat-y sprouts eventually bloom into.
 And soon, they'll honour us with an encore of their
  delicate beauty and signature fragrance.

A coil of courgettes curls itself around quinces and plums.

 If you perceived these bumpy, lime green spheres to
 be quinces, then you are correct! Here on the island, they
 are made into marmalade, compotes, and other sweet treats.



And speaking of treats, here's a peek at Poppy's peace offering. 
She's confident all will be forgiven after the first bite!
 
P.R. plays Sherlock

 Well, it's been swell hanging out with you gals!
That Poppy's sure got some real sweet pals! 

xo
P.R.

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Friday, September 26, 2014

A Case, (or Two, or Three), of Mistaken Identity

 Case #1
What are these gnarly globes, decked out
 in a patchy, Granny Smith hued suit,
bordering the more easily recognizable,
 plump and purple fruit? 


This sour apple/pear impersonator,
  too tart and tough in its raw state,
 is commonly cooked up into spicy compotes,
 thus, more pleasing to everyone's taste.




 Case #2
Now, let's see, what could these knobby, red buds be,
bursting from the rain stamped greenery? 

source

To me, they resemble these pungent pretties,
  packed with Dietary Fiber and Vitamin C.


  Case #3
But, what have we here?
 No clues regarding shape or colour.
Nothing at all to help us uncover
 the cryptic contents of a delivery,
 wrapped up in a sack, of this
  'hard nut to crack' of a mystery!


 Any ideas as to the ID of these three?
Guesses, hunches, theories, and predictions
are all welcome in the comments section.
Stay tuned, and see you soon for the solutions!
Until then, thanks for visiting,
and have a happy weekend!



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Thursday, September 11, 2014

The Tricoloured Trio

 

Yesterday, while splashing about in the pool, 
swimming lap after lap, in order to stay cool,


 I noticed a symphony of yellows, greens and blues,
around the surrounding stage that is my garden.

 
  Luminous, the lantana, like lyric sopranos,
dotted the scene in sharp staccatos, 
while the pale, periwinkle blue plumbago, 
mimicking a low profile, rather quiet alto,
hid behind little canopies of green.


  Cypresses, crowned in tones of gold,
 bookmarked the blues up in the sky,
and as the maestros of this lullaby,
conducted the clouds to descrescendo.


With the puffy masses in pianissimo,
the yellow, green, and blue trio
speckled the countryside
 in complementary hues,
in a melodic melting pot of solos. 


Thanks for visiting!

 xo
Poppy

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