"Bees blew like cake-crumbs through the golden air, white butterflies like sugared wafers, and when it wasn't raining, a diamond dust took over, which veiled and magnified all things."
Laurie Lee, Cider with Rosie
In every neglected corner of the city wild invasive blackberries sprawl. Armed with clippers, people wearing long-sleeves as armour against the fierce brambles, pick buckets of the sweet berries. I freeze them for baked crumbles in the cold of winter.
"The kitchen smells of spices and syrups, mint and sweet pepper. It is the time of 'putting up,' a rewarding time for country folk. I believe it is an instinct in man to store things against the winter, even when there is a supermarket a few blocks or miles away. It is part of the rhythm of life."
Gladys Taber, Stillmeadow Calendar
Dahlias are slow to bloom, but are coming along now. Soon there will be enough to clip a bouquet. They are such lovely long-lasting flowers and will bloom until the first frost, usually in October. I'm hoping some of the brighter varieties will soon show their faces.
I love these lingering summer days and am in no hurry at all to see them pass. We sit and read on the deck in late afternoon and when dinner is done. Often, the book waits while I admire the garden. I notice the immense sprawl of the Red Kuri Squash plants with their huge leaves. There are at least eight squashes forming and I look forward to their harvest in another month or so. The Sugar Pumpkins planted by the little girls are growing round and orange, delighting them and me. Pole beans are climbing ever higher, with bees buzzing around its flowers. Tiny green beans are beginning to form. Almost every day I pick a cucumber to slice into a salad.
"My garden - oh, the delight it has been to me this summer! I am positively revelling in flowers. Roses - such roses!
L. M. Montgomery, The Complete Journals of L.M. Montgomery, The PEI Years, 1901-1911
The sun has risen over the hedge now at 8:30 and dappled light covers the back garden. It's time to leave my computer and do the things I want to do today. There will be some inside chores and some time outside. All part of the rhythm of life.
Wishing you a most lovely weekend.
Blackberries, figs, dahlias all great summer delights. Your fig and bleu cheese combo on flatbread sounds delicious. Enjoy your day and evening.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photographs.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend and have a happy new month of August.
All the best Jan
It is a lovely time of year. I'm picking blackberries every day and adding them to a box in thr freezer. They will be delicious with apple, maybe in a crumble. What a delightful quote from Laurie Lee....Bees looking like cake crumbs!
ReplyDeleteI have never tried fresh figs. They have never been available here. Love the dried though. The blackberries look sooo good! Nice neighbour! Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteThis was a delight, Lorrie. I loved your photos and the quotes. Today I think I'm especially smitten with Laura Lee's words. Like you, I am loving "these lingering summer days and am in no hurry at all to see them pass."
ReplyDeleteI just read these words on a fellow blogger's post (Tamara Willems); they echo the sentiments of this post:
"...and these days
each
small
remarkable
wonder."
Happy August!
I enjoyed all your pictures. I'm not overly fond of wild blackberries and the thornless ones lack flavour I find. My son brought me berries he picked and I made jam. That turned out tasty.
ReplyDeleteI like blackberries best in jam, too.
DeleteWhat a lovely post, I can just imagine you sitting on the deck looking out at the garden. You must be giving the garden a lot of attention to be rewarded by so many flowers and so much harvest.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kirsten. Fortunately, once the garden is planted there isn't too much work. We have automatic watering lines and this year the weeds aren't too bad.
DeleteThat fig sounds wonderful. I’ve never thought to grow one. This time of year is so special and I can imagine you sitting out after dinner reading. Many blackberries growing wild in this corner too. They’re very early this year. B x
ReplyDeleteBlackberries are early here, too. Certain kinds of figs do well in our climate, and I would think yours would be similar, particularly as you have a sheltered garden.
DeleteBecause of several outings with friends and family to places where those Himalayan berries grow, I've enjoyed quite a few of them this summer. I've been missing what was our years-long family tradition of lots of berry-picking -- but that only could last as long as we lived in a neighborhood thick with the vines growing in every vacant lot and alley, and in our back yard.
ReplyDeleteI'm really interested in that Desert King fig. I love my fig tree so much, I've thought of planting another variety... somewhere! One year with a cool summer and early fall, none of my figs ripened. So if I ever do plant another, I must get something more reliably early. Your figs look big and promising! And those recipes using figs sound well worth researching!
The Desert King seems suited for our climate and gives a large first crop. The second crop is forming now, but those figs will not ripen before the temperatures drop.
DeleteHello dear Lorrie, your photos are gorgeous and captivating! I love the colours and beauty! Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. The world is a beautiful place.
DeleteHelp yourself. Aren't those lovely words? Yum. And speaking of yum, that flatbread sounds to die for!
ReplyDeletePeople in our neighbourhood are very generous, sharing all sorts of produce. The flatbread was very good.
DeleteLove these corners of your garden, Lorrie, and the photos are beautiful. August is our hottest, humidest month, so if you have some coolness to spare...
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Oh, Amalia, I'd send you a cool breeze if I could. This summer has been so lovely here, not too hot and yet with enough sun and warmth to make our days so pleasant.
DeleteSuch a rich, grounded portrait of late summer — full of ripening, rhythm, and quiet delight.
ReplyDeleteI love how the sweetness isn’t just in the fruit, but in the noticing.
That fig and blue cheese flatbread sounds incredible — do you ever write your recipes down, or just go by feel?
Thank you, Aritha. Yes, the sweetness in the noticing - what a lovely thought you've expressed.
DeleteI enjoy being outside early morning and later evening, even if just sitting on my deck, which is happening lots lately. You have a beautiful garden that must bring much joy to work in and to just sit back and admire!
ReplyDeleteIt's important to take time to sit and enjoy even though I often see a stray weed or branch that needs trimming. I'm learning to just let things go. Hope you are continuing to heal well.
DeleteAugust is a special month for Swifties who are "living for the hope of it all."
ReplyDeleteHaha! Hope springs eternal!
DeleteI think since I was traveling for a good portion of July it feels like summer just started and all to soon it will be over. I am loving the fruits and flowers of the season, trying to savor each moment. It sounds like you also are savoring the summer days.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marilyn. Savouring the moments is important for they soon pass.
DeleteAs always, I enjoyed reading your post and looking at the pictures 🧡
ReplyDeleteA fig tree! ... and blackberries... it all makes my mouth water.
I love August !
I love August, too, Rita! The fullness of summer!
DeleteBonjour Lorrie,
ReplyDeleteJ’aime beaucoup la citation de Gladys Taber. Le plaisir d'un jardin est de récolter ce que l’on a cultivé, de partager, de capturer les parfums et les couleurs et de les mettre en bocaux en pensant au plaisir que l’on aura cet hiver en dégustant les trésors de l’été.
Vous avez de la chance d’avoir ces belles figues. Ce sont des fruits si savoureux.
Votre jardin doit être beau et vous devez bénéficier d’un climat tempéré je pense, pour avoir tant de fleurs et légumes.
Profitez-en bien.
Hélène 🌹
Merci Helene,
DeleteOui, c'est un climat très tempéré, malgré le fait d'être au Canada.
It is a delight to see how your garden brings you such pleasure, both now and in the future as you enjoy blackberry crumbles and the like! Happy August days to you!
ReplyDeleteAnd to you, Cheryl. It's the fullness of summer.
DeleteHello, dear Lorrie! Your post is filled with the tastiest, most beautiful and special things of (late) summer.
ReplyDeleteWe had an unusually hot and dry July and I welcome the cooler days August has brought. I hope you have got some rain by now. Here it has been raining a bit, finally.
Happy August!
Dear Sara,
DeleteWe have had such a dry summer, but just this week a bit of rain fell during one night. I hope we get more, although not too much. Rain refreshes the thirsty earth and smells wonderful. Happy August days to you!
I didn't go out in the heat and pick blackberries this year and I'm sure they have finished by now. Enjoy your lovely weekend! Hugs Diane
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane. It would be very hot picking blackberries in Florida!
DeleteHow wonderful to pick those thornless blackberries from your neighbor, Lorrie. A friend of mine has a fig tree and she gives them to me to make jam. I made some strawberry and fig preserves this year and then I share with her. Your onion and fig jam sounds fabulous!
ReplyDeleteHave a happy weekend, Lorrie!