hedgerows feasting

 The raspberry tree in my garden with extraordinary fruit that look just like fat raspberries

You can see what a big tree it is.

Fruit of the Chinese Dogwood..just like a big raspberry

So pretty and the huge white bracts in springtime are also wonderful.

Linden tree loud with bees a little earlier in the summer. 

Crab Apples they make such a sweet scent

Have lots of pics to download and no time to do it...more soon
16.10.13
Ah finally sneaked in two minutes to load some pics taken during my walk with the resident asbos..two Jack Russells

Rather tattered and torn elder but still bright and bouncy in the breeze

Rose hips that can be collected and made into wonderfully sweet and soothing to the sore throat hhhmmm Rosehip syrup of my childhood

Good old blackberries..ever friendly and refreshing on a long walk at the very least. Pies and crumbles call to be made when you see these fat beauties shining in the sun.

It's always a complete delight to come across a crab apple tree. Nothing quite like smelling them before you find them on the path and overhead..They make a fabulous jelly but are way too tart to eat without some kind of cooking.

 Dark, sexy sloes..where's that gin to soak them in for Christmas

Well the birds have enjoyed these late elder berries..

More lovely rose hips

I seem to remember my mum saying the pithy centre made good itching powder substitute..but goodness knows what kind of modern allergy it might trigger so leave well alone..

Lovely hawthorn

In my garden I have a glorious red hawthorn blossom tree..usually its pale pinky/white.

White Rowan planted for Isabelle twenty years ago..it's branches are like a ballerina's arms.

Toxic Berries Look but don't touch

 I think these are bryony but beware to quote good ol' Wicki ' all components of the black bryony plant, including the tubers, are poisonous due to saponin content. Therefore, it is not typically used internally; however, it has been used as a poultice for bruises and inflamed joints.' Personally I wouldn't use it for anything..just enjoy it sparkling in the sunshine.

 Red as bright as this can mean poison and in this case it does..Bryony twisting through the branches

Well these believe it or not are spindle berries..usually bright and pink but this year rather like old germolene.

These spindle berries are a bit more like it!!By the way they are also highly toxic so don't be tempted to do anything other than look at them. Euonymus europaeus

 Some additional delights

 These are not in the hedgerow as such but they are rather lovely..

 End of the summer Mullein also known as

Adam's flannel, old man's flannel, woollen, rag paper, candlewick plant, wild ice leaf, Jupiter's staff, Jacob's staff, Flannel Plant, Hag's Taper

The umbelliferous  Dill I love the sweet tangy seeds of this amazing plant.

blackberries and apples

My mum and I and then my girls and I, used to go blackberrying..so for me the rhythmic reach and drop for blackberries is rich with comforting memories..I once picked them from the back of Clava a big, liver dark, thoroughbred mare and the berries were the size of golf-balls that exploded and dribbled down her deep dark neck as we galloped home..magic. 

Well this years berries are mega big and sweet and shiny with the sun. The apples were my first proper crop...and maybe no-one needs a recipe for blackberry and apple crumble..just a few tips perhaps.

 Wash the blackberries as wondrous little creepy crawlies can be found munching ahead of you..happily surrounded in the purple juices..

 Use butter if you can as the rich taste of the crumble is unsurpassable when bound in the golden stuff..be generous with your creativity..add things to give it crunch and surprise.

Don't add too much water..but be generous with a sprinkle of unprocessed sugar..or yummy honey

Use your finger tips as if rubbing in for pastry..then pile it all together perhaps with stem ginger...hmmm slide it into the oven and serve when crispy hot with double cream..or ice cream...all glorious xxxxxxx

rachel wetzsteon

Rachel Wetzsteon:

Urban Gallery

'When the wind invades the treetops

and the trees agree, shivering

take me, take me, when their

stealthy perfume drifts down to waft

among mortals…'

I have just discovered her and am sad to find her already gone.
In Adam Kirsch's essay he describes her as the 'not quite' poet of her generation. She died aged only 42 on Christmas eve 2009.

New rescue chooks

Well, after spotting an article in the local paper..I dashed over to Old Gardens Animal rescue Centre, in Sidlesham and met Dave and Irene who have done a great job in getting 1000 or so girls out of the intensive system of farming. As well as these rather manky looking chooks they also had a lot and I mean ..a lot..of wonderful exotic breeds skittering about. Not just chickens all kinds of be-feathered marvels.
Pictures to come ...

Well they have all settled in and Helen and Sylvia have finally stopped hen-pecking them. They have learned to scuttle towards the hen house when I call 'bed-time girls!' In a particular lullaby , go to sleep now...voice..Well that 's how I imagine it to sound. ..Anyway they up skirts and hurry towards the door. Scrabble the Jack Russell, is so naughty she stands all aquiver waiting for them to file up the ramp and into the hutch. Given half the chance she'd pluck them all and parcel them up for supper. But she doesn't dare whilst I hover.
They are all characters but I have only named one of them so far..Minnie. She is the smallest and therefore easier to identify. It's funny how they all have such different characters...I do love my chooks.

What is this underfoot...soil!!! WOW!

 These brown girls have never stepped out into anything lush before..they set to work scratching up a row of dust baths and pecked optimistically at everything hoping scraps of stone might be bugs...

Shaking their tail feathers and getting ready up for a spot of line dancing!

Helen the resident Light Sussex is a great galleon in comparison..she is looking for a few combs to take a nip

OK I know..enough of chickens for a while

words to conjure with

Bedraggled
Be-draggled
Bed raggled
this wonderful word has always amused me.