Still Canning

Last night we put up 1.5 gallons of quite nice yellow plum jam- from 'La Crescent'. For some reason this year these plums were outstanding- usually something goes wrong which I've assumed to be cucurlios (sp?), but this year either the winter killed them or because I do no spraying populations of natural predators reduced their population. I'm just afraid that the tree will now die- it's been there 21 years which is elderly for a plum. I still have elderberries to harvest 9not quite ripe yet) and Dolgo crabapples which I'm hoping to use with the elderberries. Alos, the Aronias are coming on and the Schizandra., Tonight we're making more pickles.

Canning

My canning season is here. Last night Dana and I canned 8 gallons of plum-"Dolgo" crabapple- blackberry juice. Tonight it's pickles-- I got up, staggered outside only to find a 5 gallon pail of cucumbers waiting to be pickled--and I hate wasting food. I nedd to stop at Hannafords on the way hame to buy sugar, cider vinegar and still more canning jars. We made our first cider Monday out of Yellow Transparent, Duchess, Prairie Magic, Whitney and Antonova (Sp?)-- it was successful.

Hydrangea paniculata

Lately I've gotten into Hydrangeas- especially those with large loose (wild form) inflorescenses (sp?). Here are some photos