Apple Cider

At this time of year, we make alot of cider and apple pies. The secret to both is to use at least three different kinds of apples- all of which should be tart or strongly flavored. Namby-pamby apples have less taste when pressed or baked. Unfortunately, some of the varieties I have bought, based on glowing descriptions in catalogs are poor--or at least I don't care for them. It has taken some of these varieties 15 years or more to fruit enough for me to decide I don't like them. I would say roughly have of the feral apples around me have a good taste for cider and have aren't worth pressing. In my gardens I am trying to do a last weeding and mulching before the winter. I planted 4 kinds of Narcissus: Altun Ha, Pistachio, Avalon and Garden Classic (it could be Classis Garden)--I also put in some Puschkinia. I still have Allium 'Ozawa' bloong.

Mid -October Flowers

I had to give up swimming for the year last Sunday but my garden has not given up yet. I have planted quite alot of varieties of Hydrangea paniculata which are still blooming and pretty if a little somber. Some of my favorite cultivars are Big Ben, Floribunda, Pinky Winky, Pink Diamond. Unique and White Moth: I like all the vaieties with a natural style inflorescence. Besides the hydrangeas, I have lots of Rudbeckia triloba--I sort of let it naturalize. There is also some of the late, quite blue monkshood (A. arendsii), also some late Helianthus, especially maximillian's sunflower (H. salisifolius) which doesn't become such a weed as many. I have Colchicum and Allium Ozawa which are both magenta and quite short- I really prefer taller plants suitable for large flower arrangments. At church last week, the minister had to bend a sprig of beech foliage as it was blocking peoples view. I have to be more carefull.

Still Juicing

I'm in the process of making Aronia melanocarpa juice at the moment, Aronia growers in Iowa (I believe it is) decided aronia-berry sounds better than chokeberry as a common name for these. Two years ago, I made Aronia -Schizandra juice which was excellent, last year I made Aronia-Schizandra-elderberry-Prinsepia(sp?) juice. This year, we already made some very good Aronia-Dolgo crabapple juice and now I'm making some plain Aronia, which, by the way, have more anti-oxidants than any other fruit. I still have Schizandra, grapes to make juice from.

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

Daylilies

This is the season when my daylilies reign supreme-- I prefer the pure lemon and canary yellow, orange, and true red (not the older muddy, brownish or barn red varieties).. Some of my favrites are: Buttered Popcorn

Ruby Throat

Tuscwilla Tigress

Alabama Jubilee