My courtyard jungle

Interesting progress in the case of the purple Iris from the previous post. The flowers last about 24 hours and then seem to self-implode - closing in on themselves, a bit like melting glass. This then gives rise to the next flush of blooms, which I expect to see over the weekend.

My courtyard is a bit purple and yellow at the moment, as you can see. The spray of flowers in the final photograph is from one of my olive trees. When I left for Europe, the tiny blooms were opening. Now the trees are awash with the blooms at the end of their cycle. Next is the wait to see how many fruit set for 2010. From memory I had about 40 last year.

On yer marks

The arrival of Spring is a onestepforward onestepback process. The days are slowly getting warmer, but the winds are strill and bitter. I have trimmed, repotted, fertilised and weeded. All is ready. The African Violet on the sill beside my computer is a joy in waiting.


The avocado and the fig are filled with Thomas' 'green fuse'. Remember when the avocado was but a sluice of slime in a bottle?

And the olive trees are being their usual mediterranean selves: promising much, flaunting their fertility, but wisely producing much more than they need 'just in case'. Let's hope they all thrive during my absence in La Republique.

Now for a sharp cheddar & CSM blend

Twenty days in a brine that was changed every other day. Read the recipe from the ABC site again, and decided to wing it. My usual method.

Mixed a big slurp of extra-virgin olive oil with a small slurp of raspberry vinegar. A good sprinkle of cracked black pepper, about 8 or so cloves of garlic roughly sliced. A generous handful of oregano straight from the garden, chopped but not finely. Shake all together. Pour over olives, put lid on and store on bench not in fridge.

Now to wait for a week and then devour them out in the courtyard with Mel Torme drifting out from the radiogram.

In a pickle

Day 9 of the pickle-process. I tried one today to see whether I have to continue for 20 days or whether the bitterness will have eased sufficiently by 14 days. See my gnawed seed? I think I am heading toward a 14 day PP. Invariably, as I go about my chores, I have assistance.

Getting pickled

Taking one's eye off the ball is never a good move, and leads to one's olives shrivelling. Never mind, shall still go through the pickling procedure so that I am ready for a bumper crop next year and have the gear and the procedure down pat.

Aunty provided this "recipe" which is probably as good as any.

Accentuate the positive

The second fig had dropped off the perch when I returned from work today, but I knew that was going to happen. Just like many miscarriages indicate that the seed had not grown properly.

Here instead are two images full of potential: olives and limes.

Fruiting

Both trees are totally covered. Lst year I thought this was the olive itself. Now I know it to be but the flower. Last year none of the flowers opened.

Patience is a virtue.

Hope springs eternal

Both my olive trees - planted on my return from Italy in October 2006 - are awash with these small buds. Now the same thing occurred this time last year: only for them to shrivel in-situ. I gather from a friend that there is a massive rigmarole required to take olive fruit from tree to martini-glass ...

Suburban olive grove

As I mentioned before, when I was in Italy in September 2006, I stayed on a working olive grove outside Assisi. Upon my return, I bought two olive plants about a foot high in small pots. Two and a half years later, those bushes are about 6' tall and I have high hopes for fruit come Spring.

Italian influence

When I was in Italy in the northern autumn of 2006, I stayed on an olive farm just outside Assisi. Upon my return, I planted two small olive trees in large planters for my rear courtyard. In the interim I have assiduously pruned to create two trees that are fleshed out and about 6 foot tall. I am hoping they will fruit this coming spring. Above, looking through my canopy. Below, early morning Assisi.