Rhubarb & Strawberry Crumble

Rhubarb grown in the garden appears to be more tasty than the rhubarb grown commercially, however, sadly our plant is not as vigorous as we would like it to be. In order to make it go further I add freshly picked strawberries, the two together make a perfect marriage whose seasons luckily coincide. Crumbles aren't just a winter dessert, this tasty combination is delicious cold topped off with icecream.

Sprinkle with a small amount of sugar, some fresh orange or lemon juice, and add your own particular crumble mix ready to cook.

The blossom trees here have excelled themselves this year - never before have we witnessed our Hornbeam tree looking so laiden with flowers.

The bees, butterflies and insects have been loving it too.

This beautiful rose with sweet smelling flowers was a birthday gift last year. When I received the rose its flowers were a very pale lemon, but, strangely this year they are more of an apricot shade. 

L. M. Montgomery in Anne of the Island writes " I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June."  

Perhaps a lovely thought! But what would we do without Autumns gold? Winters stark beauty or Springs renewal? 

   

This is the third nest that this fine lady Turdus merula - blackbird has built in our garden that we are aware of, but we are now keeping everything crossed for her. Her first nest was raided by a pair of Jays and the second by a gang of Magpies - surely it must be third time lucky for her.

In the conservatory this Amaryllis is having a second flowering, she is several years old but reliably keeps on flowering.

She has been joined by this rather unusual, but pretty flower, produced for the first time by a succulent, that I have also had for several years.