Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice , a set on Flickr.

Spent the day on the plot. There's still that wind we've had since May and at one point it felt very cold, but as soon as the wind died it felt like a classic British summer's day. The strawberries are still going strong but slowing and I've made another 2 jars of jam, this time with a mix of white currants and rasps. Harvesting daily; today radish, potato, spinach, rasps, onion, strawbs, chives. Honey bees seem happy and the Sweet William is looking beautiful with the Passiflora looking a bit stronger.
Since blogging I've become more interested in photography and have been taking pictures on my phone but I really want to be able to see the produce up close and so I've switched to a Canon and have gone a bit crazy with the macro setting. So here's the best of the bunch from today.

Strawberry Honeoye

I've not been able to blog as much as I'd have liked as I've been working hard with friends and helpers to harvest the Honeoye.  In fact at times I've not been able to keep up with the yield.  These strawberries this year have been lush and beautiful, full of flavour, colour and taste.  We must have harvested about 20 pounds of strawberries, much of which has been turned into sweet or jam or frozen.  The plot has given so much bounty from the 6 honeoye plants we started with 3 seasons ago.  This plant is a great giver for northern climates and keeps producing seemingly the more you harvest.  We bought ours from http://www.cooltemperate.co.uk/

A map of the site of the allotment

This strawberry bed started off with 6 Honeoye about 3 years ago and two very small Alpine Strawberries.  They are easily maintained, hardy and give a brilliant return.  This bed is only about 9 feet by 9 feet. 

Nimbles and helpers

First strawberries came in May and I actually made some jam in that month.  April had been so hot and dry which is why the strawbs came to fruition so early.  

The second day of harvesting with new helper.

More and more

The plant sale was a wash out, the only full rainy day for a whole month and it had to be this one.  It didn't put us off going and getting very wet and cold but on that day came back with 4 pound of the honeoye.  We had the most amazing cream tea at home in the warmth and dry.

More help and more strawbs.

The harvesting boxes are getting bigger.

This harvester harvested another 3 and a half pound and I made a slightly tangier jam with less sugar and I think it tastes better, so thanks to this helper for good feedback.

    Thanks to the  plot and the earth for allowing me to share with friends this space and just enjoy the sheer loveliness of the strawberry and to my surprise its humour.  Praise the humble strawb.