looky me, looky me!

I'm turning into a regular femme du ferme here what with my radishes and carrots and mache poking their heads towards the sun. Not to mention the hollyhock seeds I've been gathering through my travels that I have now planted against a sunny wall and send good omens towards. Or the walk through the marché today where I ogled every stand offering fraises, judging quality and price. After which I basked in the sun on a café terrasse, sipped my espresso and weighed the options. I returned to one of my favorite stands where an old man brings a meager selection each week ... but there is always one standout! Last year all of my peppers came from him. I bought his last 8 baskets of berries and returned home and ... *gasp* ... prepared jam!!!

now before we get too excited, let me say that I used French pectin and an American recipe and I'm not sure it is setting up so well. But I prefer freezer conserves so even if it isn't perfect it is going to taste divinely fresh because it isn't cooked. If it is a little more syrupy ... so be it. I have 10 containers and I will definitely need to gift some because I don't eat that much jam in 3 years! but I think I can also use it for little tarts and such ...

I've been searching for dahlia tubers but looks like I missed the boat. It has been so long since I've really practiced the art of gardening that I've forgotten so much about the timing. I'm trying to do some better research and planning so that next year I'll be on top of it. For example, next year I'd like to have a strawberry patch of my own. But I think I've completely lost the mark on that one. And I want peonies too. sigh.

But my wisteria is Monet worthy and my lilacs (deep purple and white) have scented the garden delightfully. And I've got roses everywhere. The plants I mean, no flowers yet but the garden will have masses of roses I hope.