The sky is bright blue today .. a fringe of cloud puffs dot the horizon. It is hot and humid, but there is a good breeze which is doing a splendid job of banging the blind against the open window .. I’m ensconced upstairs in the garage.
This is the time of year that the wildlife enjoys spending time in the orchard – their summer supermarket.
There are those furry critters that visit in the dark of night scampering up trees, greedily biting into unripe fruit or snapping branches that are laden. I’m sure they hurl down fruit to their buddies waiting below. Then there are the feathered daytime visitors who are quite blasé about their indulgence.
Caught in the act!
Without surprise my lunch today was stewed plums, the fact that many of them weren’t exactly ripe when cooked is irrelevant, they were topped with a rather delicious yoghurt making an interesting tart combination. It appears that I am single handedly endeavouring to freeze, eat or giveaway our fruit.
Then there is the garden …
- why did I plant around 30 bean plants, what was I thinking!
- the cucumbers and zucchinis are machines, I’m making pickle tonight (pics to come)
- for some strange reason the sunflowers are shorter than the corn which is now showing off its tassels
- the self seeded pumpkin or whatever it is, should never have been left to grow!
- I have fennel which needs to be picked and sliced into a salad with red onion and orange segments
- it seems I have become a vegetarian indulging in the odd salmon meal
- I’m blanching and freezing things (go girl)
- my garden is a mass of sassy flowers in a variety of gorgeous hues
- I have become adept at squishing copulating green shield beetles
- oh and then there are the chooks … who are happily laying about 10 eggs per day
Purple king beans
Proof of hard work!
Duck pond
Thanks so much to all you wonderful friends and bloggers who left such lovely get well wishes for Bill. Your kind words meant a great deal to him. Needless to say, I miss him and hubby, the kitchen just isn’t the same without those boys.
Happy gardening and for all those in NZ, happy summer.
Fantastic photos. I love that bluebird. It’s very interesting. The critters do love to partake in nature’s supermarket.
Thank you very much Mr Price 🙂 That bluebird is a pukeko or swamphen. They are handsome birds with a very cute white bottom. And they do so enjoy our place. Perfect for them with a pond and the orchard close by. Always great to see you here!
Once again Jules a very entertaining blog and stunning pics. Hope Andrews dad is on the road to recovery and look forward to seeing you over here sometime soon, with love and best wishes
Hey Lee .. so good to hear from you again. And glad that you enjoyed the post 😀 Good news, Bill is on the road to recovery. Looking forward to seeing you again too Miss. Thanks for the love and best wishes. Hugs
Lovely writing Julie!
What a good life you are living – thanks for sharing the gorgeous photo’s!
Hi Lizzie … thank you! Nice to share stuff isn’t it! I’ll save the chicken mites to the next post! LOL Yes, it sure is a good life …
The photos of your garden are just beautiful….green, leafy, cool and abundant. Mr Pukeko looks as though he’s ready for a feast!
Hi Jane .. it is very very green and leafy. And given this hot muggy weather, the garden appears to be on steroids. As for Mr Pukeko, they are opportunists, no doubt and who can blame them with a variety of fruit to choose from 😉
What beautiful greenery you have! It looks especially pretty from my vantage point here where it is now mid-winter, mostly stark and cold.
Oh it is green alright 🙂 And very pretty too. Nice to share it with you. Thanks for stopping by …
Gorgeous Julie – You’re one talented gardener – How your father would have been impressed. Maybe he is looking down and guiding you.
Xxxxxclaire
Dad sure would have been impressed! He is here for sure, rolling his eyes when I stake my tomatoes, prune my roses or plant flowers in my veg garden! LOL Hugs
This is great garden and gardening, I admire and fascinating me too. Thank you dear Julie, thank you because you took me there too, I can feel how amazing to be in this beautiful garden. Blessing and Happiness dear Julie, Love, nia
Hello dear Nia … I so enjoy your visits 😀 I’m glad you enjoyed the garden, it is very special to me, even if it is hard work .. Blessings and happiness to you too
Gorgeous pics Julie. You should do a photo book. xxxxx
Sent from my iPhone
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Ah, that’s an idea! You can write it .. 😀
Happy summer from NW England! Sassy flowers sums it up perfectly.
I like the way you have infused the headiness of summer in the shots. You have a lovely way of seeing things.
Thank you so much .. Glad you enjoyed your visit 🙂
Hi Julie you’ve captured Frog Pond just as it is. For those who haven’t had the opportunity to visit I can assure you that it’s paradise. Julie I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many wind falls. The vegetation is in abundance! Glad you’re getting on bottling so as to keep the winter store going. Then some of the bottles will make perfect gifts. There will be a few disappointed folk back in the uk this year not to receive our jams and pickles! I finally read all the replies took sometime but at least I’m reading again. Hi to the many friends that I pass this onto please now and again give Julie a short or long reply,she woul d love to hear from you. I send them all over. America Spain France and all over the UK.
Julie thanks for the latest news makes me feel as though I’m there with you. Lots of love and kisses. Take good care and don’t go climbing until Andrew is home Love you .xxxxxxxxxx
Ps say hallow to all in Valley road.
Thanks Bill .. and you are so right, there has never ever been so many windfalls! The place is so lush, electric green. You will be pleased to know I made some pickle today. Woohoo. You do a better job of marketing than I do .. no doubt about it 🙂 Lovely to send you news Bill. And I promise, no climbing up the ladder in the orchard. Hugs and loads of love
Great photos , be there soon x
Mr B … thank you!
Well Julie once again you’ve captured Frog Pond in all its glory. For those of you who have never had the experience of visiting. It’s just like the beautiful photos show. As you approach down the hill towards the valley and suddenly it appears. The expanse of pine tress that surround it on a very steep hillsides. Many years ago I could attempt to climb but not now. Julie I’ve never seen so many windfalls. It’s looking very lush . Hope the olives go well. Well chocks are laying well it must be that fist class dinning Menu! ,!!
Hi to all that I pass this onto Julie would love to hear a few words from you. Just read comments, put your email and name writes few words,then post comments.
Well they are getting me out of bed. I’ve got to learn to walk around albeit with a frame gradually getting there.
Well Julie glad your starting the production line. Good for winter and giving as gifts. There will be few disappointed folk here this year without jams and pickles!
Julie give my best wishes to all that know me in N Z and your Brother and family in Australia. We all go back so many years.
It’s was good to talk yesterday we don’t feel so far apart using the I pads .
You will be fast asleep now so something to wake up to.
Lots of love and kisses missing you. Bill xxxxx
Hey Bill … oh yes it is so lush! The olives are actually looking very good, although they are in dire need of a prune. Boy are they going to get it after harvest! LOL Good to hear that you are getting out of bed Mr B – it won’t be long before you will be at the gym! It was super talking and seeing you too .. Missing you loads Mr B 😀
Such a beautiful post, describing a lush paradise of a garden <3
Hello .. it is so lush! And lovely … 😀 Thanks for stopping by
Ahhhhh, warmth for my winter days in the USA! I can almost smell the gardens and fruits… Thank you for reminding me of what is ahead in a few more months. 🙂
I was standing in the orchard the other day, eating a ripe peach with juice dribbling down my chin. Yep that was special! Glad to share our summer with you. Thanks for stopping by ..
It’s summertime and the livin is eaaasy! It’s summertime and the livin is fine!!!! Love that song and love that season. Your world is rich, lush and Wonderful!
Hello Linda … oh yes it is rich, lush and wonderful. Lucky me! I can hear you singing … 😀
It’s the best of seasons!
What a stunning garden post, Julie… all those beautiful pics and your summer to enjoy!! You are really such a gifted gardener and photographer. A great time for us to celebrate the fruits of your labour and to share this joy with you! Happy summer! 😀
Hello Iris .. oh thank you. Yep, the garden is looking amazing at this time of year. And trust me this is a summer like no other. I do love gardening (I’m heading out soon to throw around some homemade fertiliser – I must be nuts :D) And I do love photography. Happy summer lovely
Well, look at the wonderful beauties… so enjoy throwing the magic wand around, 😉 and more great photos for us! 😃 😃 So have a lovely day, won’t you? 😎 😀
And you! 😊
Really…go girl!
Hey Angeline … 😀
hi julie.so glad to hear bill is getting up and about now,you really are busy at summertime, do love the bird shot, not sure what breed it is ,all our love , martin and esther,croxley green.
Hi Martin .. so nice to hear from you. That is a pukeko or swamphen. Very cheeky and very handsome. Complete with a white bottom. Yes summertime sure is busy and so much busier without Bill! 🙂
Beautiful pictures, Julie. My mouth was watering from seeing the first photo to the last. I am totally understand why you have so many uninvited guests 😉
Have a great day.
Oh and a great day to you too Helen … 😀 Glad you enjoyed the pics
Thank you for this shot of a divine tonic, such a pick me up in old northern hemisphere January.
Lovely to be able to supply some summer tonic! 😀
Stewed plums with curd….sounds yummy!
Particularly yummy .. if not a little tart! 🙂
Tarty is good! 😀
What a bounty you have in your garden – though not without lots of work I know! Your photos are wonderful- what do your chickens think of that big blue bird😳
What beautiful photos. I used to dream of a garden like that and when I finally got a decent patch I was beaten by advancing years and ground as hard as concrete. The swamphen is beautiful. GWS Bill.
Isn’t that pukeko fabulous? Such brilliant colours, which match your garden so perfectly. It all looks so lush and green, though I don’t envy you dealing with all the zuchinnis.
I recognized the pukeko because we saw one near the beginning of our first NZ trip. They have such long toes.
Your photos are gorgeous. I know it is hard work but all the love you put into the garden shows. This post reminded me so much of our apple orchard in New Hampshire…the deer, turkeys, ground hogs and porcupines used to love feasting in the orchard and garden.
A lovely series of photos, Julie. It sounds like you have been busy.
You have become adept at squishing copulating green shield beetles – the mind boggles at our cruelty. 🙂 🙂 🙂
“your” cruelty.
Times of plenty, Julie, I could look at those pics forever…such a contrast to our own situation (rain, grey…) but I won’t complain with the woods brimming with snowdrops and sometimes on a mild day I can feel a hint of spring in the air! Still at a distance but I know it’s there. Your vegetable garden looks undecently happy, bet so are you when you’re harvesting these masses of veg and fruit! 😉 Wish I could come over and give you a hand. As always your pics are stunning but the corn with the house in the background is my clear favourite today, delicious bokeh! Hope Bill is better. xx Big hug
Hey Annette, the veg garden is incredibly happy! I have been watering it daily, talking to it (of course) and throwing around fertiliser. How I wish you could give me a hand! I liked that pic too of the corn. You should see it, really showing off. Bill is on the improve too which is great! Big hugs back at you x
You’re garden is so abundant Julie, no one near you needs to grow a thing and the wild creatures are well provided for. It’s hard work preserving and freezing, but will be so worth it in the winter. For me, just seeing your bright canvass of colour is wonderful enough, I can imagine the scents and flavours. 🙂
Hi Gilly .. oh year the wildlife is well provided for 🙂 Preserving and freezing is a mission. Hubby brought in a mass of plums yesterday – oh dear! Super to share colour with you, the air is heady with summer scents.
Julie, I thoroughly enjoy your descriptions and photos of your beautiful New Zealand farm and your life there!
I hope Bill continues to get well, and you will enjoy his visits again soon.
Hi dear Lavinia … thanks for your lovely comment. Bill is on the improve … thanks again for those get well wishes
Hi Julie, I have finally got around to making a comment on your blog after Bills nagging! I thought I must after your lovely comments on my dear friend Bill on your previous blog, we all hope he gets better very soon. As always your pictures continue to be of great interest and a lovely insite to your New Zealand way of life. Much love Sheila xx
Hi Sheila … oh what a nice surprise! Bill nagging ? LOL Glad you enjoyed the pics, nice to share NZ with you. I’m missing Mr B
Hi Julie, good to hear Bill is feeling better. Please pass along my best. It sounds like the canning and preserving is up to you this year. Remember, I always have a jar or two of Huckleberry Grand Marnier Preserves set aside for trading. 🙂 Your pictures are wonderful. Your garden looks like it is really chugging along – you are going to have to start a roadside stand just to keep up with the produce. Take care. Bob
Hi Bob! I sure shall pass on your best! Oh dear the preserving is all mine. You should have seen the quantities of plums that Andrew hauled in last night. Frightening. I could have run out the door. Now that Huckleberry Grand Marnier sure sounds worth trading. Might be coming over to Canada this year – be great to grab a jar off you! Yes the garden is chugging along – having a summer to remember. I could do that roadside stand now I’m unemployed. Missing your blog btw x
Chaos and plenty in the garden. What more should we wish for? Pests always know where to go.
Ha ha .. I’m with you. I love chaos in the garden and there is plenty in mine. Could do without those pests .. but they sure know where to come!
Your pictures always makes me happy 🙂
Great to hear Joshi!
What a stunning garden you have, Julie!! We are suffering from ugly weather now..it makes me sad! So I love your pics twice 😉
Have a good time and best wishes to Bill
Sabine
Hi Sabine … thank you! 🙂 Sorry to hear that your weather hasn’t been good. We have had an amazing summer … a bit damp lately, but the rain is needed. So pleased that you enjoyed the pics. And thank you for the get well wishes. Good to see you here ..
dear Julie big hugs from snowy etown…such beauty in your images and the colour feels so good…thanks for sharing your photography and narrative ~ hugs hedy ☺️🤗💫
Hey Hedy thanks for those big hugs from snowy etown … It’s that time of year when the garden looks good and is so colourful. 😀 So good to be able to share it with you . Hugs from NZ
Oh my goodness, Julie, one image is more beautiful then the next! How busy you must be yet stopped to do this post! I’m impressed! I know how hard gardening work is!! That pic of the pond I can just about see the fairies dancing about. That is one very magical place and one in which I would just love to visit. Thank you for the scrumptious and gorgeous images from your corner of the world. I don’t know how you do what you do. And I really mean that!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Hi Amy .. gardening sure is hard work! But so worthwhile. I smiled when I read about the fairies dancing around the pond .. I can nearly see them too! I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the images .. it’s so nice to be able to share them with you. Hugs 😀
(((HUGS))) back, Julie!!! 🤗
Nice supermarket
Hey Rajiv … very nice supermarket! It’s been great to see you in the blogging world lately 🙂
Lovely garden😊
Thank you! 🙂
Beautiful images. I like all of them. They tell a wonderful story
Thank you so much, so nice to hear from you!
The expression of your photographs that tell about the intimate way you know and grow your garden. In your words I feel long days, a marvelous summer indeed (and a bit hotter than usual in this other side of the world) I hope the longing has not need to be and you and your dear ones are fine. Thank you, Julie. : )
How I enjoy getting your comments Francis. And thank you! I do love my garden and am very passionate about it. We are all well thanks 🙂 and I hope all is well with you too. Missing your blog as always …
You are surrounded with a splendid supermarket. And you have captured some beautiful images. Colourful and lush.
Thank you Otto!