Monday, July 7, 2014

Tayberries, Cherries and Roses






Mon Bouquet du Jour.





Roses , Cherries and Tayberries from my garden.  









Tayberries make extra special confiture.

Mix 5 cups of tayberries with 3 to 4 cups of sugar.
Let macerate for a couple of hours. 

Cook to a full rolling boil for about 2 to 5 minutes.

(Test on very cold plate every few minutes.  When the skin on the top of the plate wrinkles, the jam is ready).

Ladle into sterilized jars.  Will hold for 6 months.

Note:  if the jam does not set, do not worry, use as syrup or topping on waffles, pancakes, yogurt, ice cream, and more.  









The Tayberry,  an especially aromatic berry,  is a cross between a Raspberry and a Blackberry. Patented in 1979 the berry is named after the River Tay of Scotland. 








My cherries are disappearing...even before they are ripe.
 Our bird population is making fast work of them.  







Unglazed and unfired tile.  The pigments sit on the tile and are still very powdery and fragile.  The small red guidelines will disappear during firing. 
I thought that I had finished my latest project.  
But no, my tiles are liked and the project has been enlarged.  



Have a great week my dear friends.  

Gina 


Joining http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Also joining  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/



17 comments:

  1. I had never heard of a tayberry until this posting, but as I like both raspberries and blackberries, I can imagine that the tayberry has a wonderful taste. I'm glad your tile project has expanded — something tells me there will be many additional projects coming to you by word-of-mouth . . .

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    1. Dear Mark, I have read that the Tayberry has a unique and excellent flavor. I was not disappointed. It has become my favorite berry.
      It's not easy to get back into projects when my garden is calling every minute of the day. So, I will have to have a talk with myself.

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  2. Why am I not surprised that someone who ordered what one believed was a sufficient quantity of your ceramics...then when the treasure arrived...one had to make sure there were enough and reordered! I'm sure if that was my order, that would be the case. Your artwork is spellbinding to me! (If only I still had my big house, with lots of storage room - aah...)

    Now, to search for tayberries... a new revelation.

    Mary in Oregon

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    1. Dear Mary, If there is a bit of room in your garden, do try growing a tayberry bush. I have not tasted a berry that has a better flavor.
      You are very nice to give me such lovely compliments. It has made my day!

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  3. Your Tayberries look like little clusters of rubies - Scotland is particularly well known for its raspberries, strawberries, etc in fact all soft fruits, they flourish well in the region of the Tay around Dundee, and always have a very good flavour. All of your photos are enticing and beautifully composed Gina.

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    1. Dear Rosemary, I don't know who brought this recent cultivar to the US but I am totally smitten. The taste of this berry is elusive yet very strong at the same time and it is absolutely the finest berry I have tasted. Thank you for the additional information and thank you also for your very nice compliment.

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  4. Dear Gina,
    Dahling2 loves berries for breakfast all year, especially Raspberries, Blueberries and Blackberries. What a pleasant surprise it would be
    to serve him Tayberries one morning. I have to look for them. I can understand that your garden is calling you every minute of the day now and hope that you have plenty of free time to play in the dirt..................Your images are always so inviting with the power of color sending such positive rays our way. Thank you, Sieglinde

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    1. Dear Sieglinde, Wish I could send a bushel of Tayberries to Dahling2. He would not soon forget the marvelous flavor of these very special berries. I'm so glad that I took the "bull by the horns" and ordered a couple of plants. They are doing well in our high desert climate.
      This is a wonderful time of the year. Everything is growing and the hard work is showing results. But there is always time for friends and champagne. Thank you for your visit and leaving such a nice comment.

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  5. I love your Bouquet du Jour, it is so elegant....& it's "exotic" Taiberries just add an irresistible charme, Gina :)

    Magic tile painting, how excuisite & fairytale-alike :)

    Wonderful to visit your blog & art, everytime I leave it with so much fresh energy :)

    ciaociao
    elvira

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    1. Dear Elvira, How nice of you to stop by and leave such a flattering comment on my blog. I am so glad to see your posts again after a long absence, I know that you have been very busy as a professional photographer. Your last post is so very special.
      I look forward to watching Cinghy-Jasmine's little piglets grow and hear about their adventures.

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    2. Carissima Gina, thank you so very much; I loved your visit & am so touched because you remembered my Wildboargirl Cinghy-Jasmine's adventurous story; it's truly a wonderful world, the animal world & living in the woods taught me so very much about it :) I surely let you know about their 7 little adventures, Gina :)

      ciaociao
      elvira

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  6. Your post could not be more appealing. The colors, the textures, all perfection.

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    1. You are so sweet to stop by and leave a comment. Thank you Lulu.

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  7. Beautiful post. Love the mix of the flowers and fruit. So pretty.

    Big Texas Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

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    1. Thank you Susan. How nice of you to stop by and leave such a lovely comment. Have a wonderful week.

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  8. I've never heard of tayberies. I'm going to Google them. They may very well be something my husband has been killing off in our yard! :-(

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  9. Hello Alycia, Probably not. they are a very new variety. but they are very prickly. Once you have tasted these berries you will always remember them.

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