We Live in Interesting Times, Still!
We still take lots of lovely walks; the Devil's jumps' are a series of Bronze Age burial mounds, on the South Downs. They align with the setting sun at Midsummer (if it's not too cloudy). So, this was my Father's day walk/picnic.
However, simple fruity foraging trips are just as bountiful
and popular as ever.
In the normal order of things we began collecting
Elderflowers as soon as they arrived, the season tends to be short-lived, so we
got out of the traps early, when the weather was suitable. I have made extra
Elderflower Champagne this year (4 gallons), because we always run out. Two of
these gallons are an experimental batch with an added tint of raspberries,
which I think sounds very tasty. Only time will tell.
My friend Matthew also joined us picking Elderflowers too. Matt makes really good
beer, and following my attempts last February, we collected a good crop of nettles and he produced a lovely strong & smoky ale. Next he wanted to try
an Elderflower Ale.
It was a good year for cherries, and I gathered a good crop
from my front garden tree. Small sparrows seem to have been pecking away under
the nets, so I will need to adapt my protection next year.
At the allotment the summer raspberries have had an
exceptional harvest, which made up for a poor show from my Loganberry and
Tayberry bushes. The thornless Blackberry is going to be so impressive that I
will soon need a bigger freezer.
I am looking forward to doing some work with the Scouts and
other groups and hoping to organise some
public foraging trips, to promote the Southampton parks, in the late Summer or
early Autumn. Who knows?, we may even be able to run our traditional Apple Day
in October.
