Thursday, August 25, 2016

Nature has been generous



And I love it all


We never know what kind of year we're going to have.  
It's either feast or famine.





I'm not bashful. I call it what it is,  Fabulous. 




We had to harvest our grapes a few days early.  
The wasps showed up before the grapes were completely ripe. Wasps dessicate our grapes in only two days. 

We had to get up very early, while it was still dark.  Wasps wait until the sun comes out before they leave their hiding places.

They will come after you. 






Juiced by hand, nothing added. 





Raw Interlaken Grape juice.







Picked yesterday morning...






In the freezer this afternoon.





Peaches are next.




I knew it would break...too many peaches for a young tree. 





These peaches will be ripe in about a week. 
Will share with friends...they get the pleasure of picking their own. 

Did I tell you that I love picking fruit, high up on a ladder looking at the blue sky and the puffy, white clouds. 




We also have two older peach trees, "Early Albertas".  They always ripen early.  






Early Albertas are cling free and easy to peel and they have a most superior flavor...in other words they are the perfect peach. 







Late grapes (if they survive) will become golden raisins.







  Papaver Somniferum still blooming in my garden.  
I'm saving seeds.


If you're in the neighborhood.  Stop by.  
The ladder is leaning up against the tree. 

Gina



20 comments:

  1. Beautiful fruit
    There's not comparison to store bought and fresh off the tree peaches.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true Maywyn, Sometimes it's a good idea to take a drive into the countryside to stock up on fresh fruit and produce, and if you're lucky maybe a few fresh eggs.

      Delete
  2. Oh my, Gina you are amazing doing so much canning and freezing of all your garden/farm bounty. Interesting about the bees - did you have to pick with flashlights? The peaches look delicious - wish I could come by and pick with you!
    Love the labels on the jars - know you must have made those too!

    Beautiful colored poppy!
    Hugs - Mary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mary, the bees are fine. They don't bother us. We can work right amongst them and they know that we are friends. It's the ugly black wasps that attack us and our fruit. We work early and when it is cool and we work on the side of the house where there is a lot of shade.
      We managed to harvest all of the grapes and the wasps are not happy.
      Yes, I always make my labels. They are so easy. I will be glad to make some for you. Just send me a one of your favorite photos. .

      Delete
  3. You chose a brilliant strategy to get up and out to pick those grapes while the wasps were still dreaming. I can just imagine the wasp's annoyance at discovering they'd overslept.

    Oh what beautiful peaches you've grown. The peaches I've been buying weekly at the farmers market have also been pretty and delicious. I will be sorry to see peach season wane and am making the most of it. No baking, just peeled, sliced, a bit of brown sugar sprinkled over the slices while I prepare the rest of dinner...and then after I have finished eating all the delicious vegetables, I just splash a bit of heavy cream over the sliced peaches and have a taste treat. It is a wonderful August routine. Delicious! xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Frances, Well put. Could not have assessed the situation any better than you have. And yes, the wasps were looking for us yesterday.
      I love your recipe of adding brown sugar to your peaches. Of course the heavy cream will make them even more special. Can't wait to have some this afternoon.

      Delete
  4. Your harvest has been so wonderful this year Gina - sadly ours has been hit and miss. Some things have been bountiful and others have let us down - swings and roundabouts. It must be so lovely to wander out into your garden and come back clutching some of those delicious looking peaches.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear Rosemary, Sorry to hear that your hard work has not paid off. Our gardens teach us many lessons. One of our "peach" trees, bearing for the first time, turns out to be a cross between a peach and a nectarine. I haven't decided if I like it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd love to stop by and pick some peaches from your trees but will just have to content myself with admiring them from afar.
    I love your final photo of the bees inside the poppy, absolutely stunning. Thanks for showing us such luscious temptations, Happy Mosaic Monday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Maggie, Poppies and sunflowers are loved by bees. They get so busy that they don't even mind my taking pictures. Thank you for leaving a comment.

      Delete
  7. What bounty! If only I could take you up on your kind offer... Your post is the next-best thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Vee, We are having a very bountiful year in our garden. Wish I could share. Thank you for your visit.

      Delete
  8. I would love to come by to pick a sack of peaches. When my in-laws had their orchard I would go out every year at the end of September to help pick apples. I liked to go up high in the tree too, with my apple bag slung across my chest. It was such a lovely time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the same thrill of being high up in a tree gathering fruit. I remember having an apple bag and now make due with my apron folded over...not nearly as practical. I'm glad you stopped by.

      Delete
  9. Hi Gina, It's good to know the ladder is there - just in case :)) Gorgeous photos and mosaics, I really enjoyed and admired. Great week!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Liebe Ritta, Vielen dank fÜr deinen besuch. The ladder is still there, only under a different tree. I am so pleased that you like my photos.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a harvest! Grapes and peaches -- two of my favorite fruits. Beautiful images. Happy Monday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And a happy Monday to you Snap. More peaches are ripening. Come on over.

      Delete
  12. There is really nothing like harvesting fresh produce from one's own land. Our grapes are just about ripe and looking fat and purple on the vine. Your peaches look so sweet and juicy; I'd love to come pick one.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello Lorrie, What do you do with your purple grapes? Do you make wine or does your family like grape juice. I have one more peach tree, one that is late in ripening. By that time I may be ready to tackle a bit more canning.
    Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.

    ReplyDelete