In the garden strange things are happening. In the top corner the Rhododendron which started to flower last month and then suddenly stopped has started to flower again.
When we had the warm spell at the end of May (I think!) we noticed that the flowers weren't opening and gave the shrub a good water but still the flowers didn't fully open and some dropped off.
Since
we've had all the rain over the last week it has come into flower and
with more flowers than I have ever seen on it before.
The white flowered shrub which is in the same corner has done exactly the same thing. I mentioned the plant a few weeks ago when I said we'd bought it at Clumber Park and couldn't remember what it was called.
I later found out that it was a Deutzia Magnifica and it has just come into full flower after slowing down at it's first attempt.
Meanwhile in the kitchen I had a few strawberries, a nectarine and an orange that needed using up. We also had some apple pieces in the freezer left over from last year.
I cooked the apples and added sliced nectarine and chopped strawberries into the mix. I then made some sponge mixture and placed a small amount on top of the fruit to make an Eve's pudding.
This went in the oven whilst I grated the zest of the orange and then juiced it. I added a bit of juice and the grated zest to the rest of the sponge mixture and placed it in a loaf tin. When it was cool I used the rest of the juice with some icing sugar to make an icing for the top. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of the final cake. Both were delicious.
On my Kindle
I have Maggie O'Farrell's book Hamnet. I'm looking forward to reading it when I've finished reading Lucy Worsley's book on Queen Victoria.
Sunshine and showers today and it's too wet to work in the garden. Perhaps if it dries up later we may go for a walk.
Hamnet is brilliant.I loved it.Is Lucy Worsleys book on Queen Victoria readable or heavy going?Love the photos from the garden.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Hamnet. I find Lucy Worsley's writing style quite easy and light to read, not heavy going at all. I read a chapter or two at a time around a crime fiction book or two which is why it is taking so long to read:)
DeleteI must get hold of Hamnet too, it sounds a good read. Your garden is looking lovely, it sounds like your rhododendron just needed a drink! A bit like me when it's too hot! Your pudding and cake look absolutely delicious. Yum! 😊
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Hamnet. I think the top corner where both plants are must have got extra dry this year as we've never had to water much in that area before. We were concentrating on the vegetables and keeping them watered so didn't pay too much attention to the rhododendron:)
DeleteI read somewhere that rhododendrons need lots of watering to flower. Mind you after our wet winter they should have been fine. Your cake sounds delicious and I’ll go and check out your book recommendation. B x
ReplyDeleteWe've never really had to water the rhododendron before usually it just gets on with it, but this year that part of the garden must have dried out more than usual. I bet it welcomed the rain. Haven't read Hamnet yet but will get round to it soon:)
DeleteI wonder rhododendrons are like camellias and have to enjoy lots of water when the buds are forming to encourage opening, of course the rain has lots of good things in it for the acid loving plants.
ReplyDeleteWe had a deutzia that was stunning then one spring it just died. We replaced it with something else. Yours looks stunning.
I think it did lack water this year, it's usually fine, I don't think we realised how dry that corner of the garden had got. The deutzia does look good at the moment, the cutting we took of it is in a pot and it flowered ages ago I assume because the posts are kept watered:)
DeleteThe garden is looking lovely, as is the baking. I haven't had eves pudding for a long while, a great recipe to use oddments of fruit up.
ReplyDeleteThe Eve's pudding was delicious with custard one day and with plain yoghurt the second day. I like to use up the last bits of fruit and veg if I can if some does get wasted it goes into the compost bin:)
DeleteI guess you'll just have to remember to give the rhododendron a good drink next year. Your baking looks wonderful - I've banned myself from baking as I tend to eat it all far too quickly!
ReplyDeleteYes, we must remember to water the rhododendron and the other plants in that corner, the garden is changing quite a lot in this strange weather wetter in some corners and dryer in others. I try not to bake too often but I have a birthday cake to make for this coming weekend:)
DeleteYour garden is looking lovely. Interesting about the rhododendron but glad it is flowering now. By coincidence ours seems to have more flowers on it this year too.
ReplyDeleteThe baking looks delicious. Hamnet looks interesting - I hadn't heard of it but will check it out as I always enjoy your recommendations :)I find I am baking and reading a lot more these days. Have a good week and I hope you were able to get out for a walk.
I think if we'd watered it more it would have flowered earlier but I'm glad it has flowered now also the deutzia, most of the plants here seem to have had a good lot of flowers on them. The hardy geraniums are full of flowers at the moment. I'd heard about Hamnet and saw it was only 99p on Kindle so I bought it. We didn't get out for a walk yesterday but has a good walk this morning. You too have a good week:)
DeleteHamnet sounds like a book I'd enjoy. I'll look for it. Your cake looks delicious, and your garden a pretty place.
ReplyDeleteThe garden continues to delight although lawns want cutting we are doing them a bit at a time so the bees can feed on the clover and daisies. I thought Hamnet sounded like something I would like to read, I'm looking forward to it:)
DeleteHow I would like to get hold of some new reading material such as Hamnet! I don't seem to be able to concentrate on any books on my book shelf so I need something to motivate me back to reading again.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased that we've had some rain so that plants such as the flowering shrubs can thrive, but I'm also relieved that we're having some drier weather as it's more pleasant when taking a walk. I was happy to see some of our tomatoes are ripening and the first lot of strawberries have been enjoyed.
Hopefully libraries will open again soon. I still have a book here since before lockdown which I renewed on line it is supposed to be returned on 11th July but there is an amnesty on fines. I hope you find something to capture your imagination soon. Walking yesterday was damp underfoot but the air was warm and dry. We now have too many strawberries, I may have to make jam:)
DeleteThe cakes look delicious!
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely Pam, we still have some left:)
DeleteFlowers, pudding, cake, book. What's not to love! Hope you are having a good start to the week Rosie. :)
ReplyDeleteWe have to keep focused on these little pleasures, hope you have a lovely week and enjoy your art work:)
DeleteLove the Deutzia, something I've always wanted to grow, but not been able to source them over here. Ooh that pudding sounds very yummy & I'll jot down the ingredients for myself if that is OK. Take care, stay safe & huggles.
ReplyDeleteThe pudding was delicious with all the different fruits in it and so easy to make, I used the same Victoria Sponge recipe for both. Hope you make and enjoy it. You too stay safe:)
DeleteBeautiful flowers.
ReplyDelete