crabapple jelly....the best ever

The best Crabapple Jelly ever this year....

I have been enjoying myself making crabapple jelly.  Every year my espaliered crabapple 'gorgeous' is laden with shiny red jewel-like mini apples and I usually try and use as many of them as I can to make something.  Some years I just have to give them all away as I run out of time.

But this year, I have had lots of fun making the best ever glowing raspberry red crabapple jelly.   Very satisfying!

I have made plain crabapple jelly, mint jelly for lamb using crabapples as a base, a spicy cinnamon and star anise crabapple jelly and crabapple and rosewater jelly.

I don't have a glass jar left in the house....which is a miracle in this place as I always seem to be collecting them and filling the top shelf of the pantry with them and then never getting through them all.

The joy of making crapabble jelly is that really it is so simple and you do little bits of the process of a couple of days, so you aren't having to be bogged down with making over hours and hours.

Oh and I used the juice of a  lime for my pectin top up rather than a lemon and you can really taste the difference.

Fabulous

From this....

.

 Through this process.......

using the best ever jelly jam strainer....took me years to find this

to this.....  its been a lovely success this year.  I'm not sure it will last long in this household though.

Next year I am determined to experiment and make crabapple verjuice.  Always wanted to have a go at making verjuice and I found a recipe so will give it a go.

a green grassy life

I am always on the look out around the garden world for simply fabulous and interesting things....I really like these....displayed by french artist Matilide Roussel in Atomica Botanica at the Botanic Gardens in Nashville Tennessee.  See they don't just do country music there.

I would so like to do a few of these around Hobart.  I wonder if anyone would let me do a few in public places.  The mind boggles of all the different constructs you could place in great and unusual places doing all sorts of activities....and all grassy green.  Living art interpretations...

green green spots

I've gone a little mad here at KWGD.

We have green spot specials for April and I keep finding things to pop my little round green labels on.

As things get snapped up I just keep putting a few new green spots here and there.

Come and see if anything takes your fancy.  There's 10 - 50% off depending on what the item is and a few are good bargains...even if I do say so myself.

We have lots of new stock coming over the next few months and its not that long until the next trade fiar, so we need some space I reckon to fit it all in.

lillies, hedges, pop up florists.....!

Greetings...well I am back.

Please excuse my lack of posting...I have had a few technical difficulties...haven't been able to load a thing onto my blog....but it all seems to be back working again....thankfully.

I am sitting at my desk puzzling over a garden plan that I am just trying to finish and daydreaming out the window at yet another lovely sunny day - this of course is called procrastination!    Wow what amazing weather.  We have had the most incredible extended Indian Summer interspersed with sudden cold nights every now and again.  The gardens don't know if they are coming or going.  Its only a matter of time until it all cracks up and we get cold for the winter but its temptong to just pack it all in today and go and stand in the sunshine and enjoy the very best and seemingly last of the warmer rays....I am getting distracted.

I have also been having a little fun this morning looking at a few of my favourite sites around about and finding some lovely and inspirational ideas.

For example, I found out this morning that the newest lilly varieties are being released  this week...some of them are quite lovely.

And I have been investigating hedges ...I think i could do with a few of these looks in my garden...no space really but it makes you wonder if you could incorporate them....somehow.

The newest rage in America seems to be not only growing flowers and making wild bunches but having pop up florist shops.  What a fun idea.  Pop up shops of all descriptions are becoming popular it seems.

 

 

 

This last photo reminded me that I haven't planted my sweet peas and I had better get cracking...it's well past st patricks day.  I am going to grow them in little paper pots first this year and then plant them into the garden when they are big enough.  I have had lots of problems with pesky black birds getting into my seeds constantly. Nothing seems to deter them!

Nice to be back.  Have a great weekend.

 

gardens that make you go ahhhh

a few things in the garden store

With the last fine weather of our indian summer poking through our cooler autumn nights, gardens are still very much on everyones mind.  We have been doing some lovely garden projects this season and some of the gardens are all starting to come together and look green and lush and much more gardeny than when they are under construction!
We have also been getting lots of lovely new things in store to keep all our clients and customers happy.
Just a peak at  a few things.

 lovely lutyens style seats that look wonderful in almost any situation

rustic milking stools that double as almost anything in living rooms, bedrooms, conservatories and even are quite confortable as a little seat!

these mercury glass hangers are just beautiful for flowers or little plants.  they look lovely hanging in windows and are quite special.

one of our trusted favourites, these willow planters are great for herbs and there are larger ones for vegetables and salads

we have a few cute things for easter that have been very popular...little moss rabbits.
These orchids are lovely.    Or maybe a very classic professional 8.8litre Haws watering can
is more your thing. 

Keep in mind that its the time of year to be thinking about bulbs and ordering and getting ready for plantings.  A good time to start putting your hyacinths into glass for a lovely indoor floral indulgence.  We have a few extra planter kits this year that will look great also.

more of those moss easter eggs....to match with the rabbits!

wedding days....

This summer we have been having lots of fun.....we are designing lots of gardens and have been privileged to be asked to do some wedding flowers for a friend.

What a treat....and we thought they came up ok.

Its great to do lots of diverse things and have a bit of fun.

Hope you like the wedding flowers.

A big thankyou to my friend Wendy for her help and inspiration....always up for an adventure with me....thanks Wendy!

all ready to be delivered....

these were my handy models.....not the bridesmaids!

Lovely wedding....  congratulations!