I’m not often awake during the wee hours of the morning but because of jet lag, my schedule is still all over the place. Last night I was awake for a little while…and had a couple visitors.
They stopped in briefly, they must have been hungry for a garden salad, a floral bouquet. This time I was awake to catch them in the act!
It’s a good thing that I will be putting my gardens to rest for the winter very soon, otherwise I might not have been so happy to see them!
Well I can’t believe…the END of September. Where did this month go?
We have finally completed our list for the backyard renovation for this summer. Our list got altered a little bit so there were a couple less projects “to do” this summer and a change of plan for next summer. So even though it’s finished for this year, we will have to start back up in the Spring! phew!
Last summer when we came home from living away, all our lawns and gardens were a mess. That’s what happens when there is no one to care for things. A huge lesson learned. Last Fall we built a new deck and cut down trees. This summer we redid the front lawn and gardens and then started on the backyard. Lots of new gardens and shrubs and plants and lots of yards of bark mulch, a walkway, a fire pit, a fence…I call this post “Backyardigans” because here is where we spent a good part of our free time this summer.
And now to enjoy it a little…before the cold weather comes ( and we start inside projects)
My husband loves jams and jellies. Homemade are the very best, and when we browse markets, that is some of the first things he looks for.
Last week when we were on vacation we finished up the backyard project ( well at least for this year). There are still some unfinished major things that will happen next year. But last week we bought some shrubs, one being a chokecherry bush that was full of berries.
David got the bright idea that he wanted to make chokecherry jelly. He did some research and these berries are very high in antioxidants. He wanted to take advantage of that and even went back and bought a second bush. ( Although I’m not sure how healthy it will all be when he adds 5-6 cups sugar to it for jelly)
Now the jam making…
It’s his thing and I’m not getting involved except to take a couple pics and give a little advice (& help when needed) in the kitchen.
And voila…7 little jars of chokecherry jelly!
And quite tasty on toast.
Great job honey!
This post made me think of the kids song we always used to sing when my children were little. And today I really wish we still had small children. What a wonderful day!!!
It was our day in the “Valley”. The Annapolis Valley is located in the western part of the province formed by a trough between two parallel mountain ranges along the shore of the Bay of Fundy. The Valley is where all the beautiful farms, orchards and vineyards of Nova Scotia are located.
First Stop… Glad Gardens in Waterville. We have never been to this market but it’s awesome. It just so happens that this weekend they’re hosting the Annual Annapolis Valley Giant Vegetable Growers Competition and Weigh Off. The pumpkins (and other veggies) were starting to arrive when we got there. The main event is tomorrow and it looks like fun!! Pumpkins, squash, gourds, sunflowers…even watermelons. Who grows the largest? Some of the largest pumpkins to date have been 1800lbs!! Whoa Baby! We had fun talking about growing LARGE produce with some of the guys and enjoyed browsing the garden. We even got the Japanese Maple Tree we have been wanting.
Next STOP Berwick. Nova Scotia’s Apple Capital and the whole reason I wanted to come to the Valley! It’s the time of year when all those beautiful apple blossoms from the Spring, turn in to delicious apples and are harvested.
We stopped at Wheaton’s for a few crafts and apple cider and then it was on to back country roads looking for the perfect U-PICK!
And it is here in Dempsey Corner that we found the most perfect spot. And where I wished my kids were little again!!!
We had lunch in the Old Barn. Delicious Squash soup and a homemade biscuit. We chatted with the owner about the history of the farm and what they offer.
We spent a lovely Fall afternoon wandering the orchards, picking blueberries and apples. Tasting peaches & cream corn, sweet peaches and apricots, and pears. We had chickens and a little goat follow us around and we thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon! ( just like a pig in mud)
And for the road…some fresh out of the oven baked goodies to enjoy with our coffee! It was a marvellous day!!
I love fresh fruit. I especially love being able to go out and pick it myself. It’s soon apple pickin’ time here and I am hoping to get to the valley to pick some this year.
Our son and his fiancée have a plum tree at their home and the plums are ripe for picking. This year the tree has lots of red juicy plums. The best it’s been for a few years.
Sure, I’ll pick some plums!
Do you like puzzles? How about mazes? What about life-size mazes that you walk through?
Sunflowers. I LOVE them. With their sunny heads greeting, they make me smile. AND…in the Annapolis valley there are fields of sunflowers!
and one farm even advertises a Sunflower Maze.
I got thinking about sunflowers when a memory popped up on my Facebook newsfeed. 4 years ago living in China and a Saturday outing to the sunflower field. Sunflowers in China are shy though, and were never facing the camera for photos. This was funny and so unlike China culture.
So…another weekend adventure, off we went to the Sunflower field!
Sunflowers make me smile! Have a great day!!
Who doesn’t love a stroll around a beautiful park and a chance to admire some flower gardens. Halifax’s Public Gardens have been open since 1867 and are Victorian formal, a popular setting for wedding and prom photos.
We used to take our kids all the time when they were little but it’s been a few years since we were there.
Here are a few pictures from our walk on the weekend.
Oxford Nova Scotia is the Blueberry Capital of Canada. BUT, you don’t have to go to Oxford to enjoy the tasty, delicious goodness of fresh picked blueberries. They’re in the stores, the markets, my backyard, my Mother’s yard ( she just brought me a whole big bowl full) Yummmm…. I LOVE this time of year!
It’s time for Blueberry EVERYTHING!!
Yummy 💙
Haha, talking about my little salad garden.
I planted some lettuce, kale and mixed salad in pots on my deck this year. Just to see if they’d grow. And the actually did pretty good.
So I have enjoyed side salads from MY garden this summer. Baby lettuce and kale. Tastes so delicious.
Backyard Visitors Take TWO
Well I don’t have the pics to prove it BUT I know exactly who what came! They ACTUALLY came VERY close to the house. Right up to my deck.
They LOVE the luscious green leaves that this summer has produced in gardens. I’m aware of their taste and I’ve been trying to keep them from enjoying their garden salad in my yard. We have been trying Iris Spring soap around the garden and in pots. It’s supposed to work, I guess it didn’t this time. Short of David going outside in the middle of the night and peeing on the garden ( I hear they don’t like male human pee) we’re gonna have to get some blood meal to try and see if that works.
So…the lovely green hostas on my step…
Well you get the picture!
( And the flowers off the top in the garden) Yes, O deer!
Just An East Coast Girl 