Down the garden path, past the destruction that is cricket in a confined space and out the back gate. In the lane the elderflower is just starting to flower. I think I shall make cordial this year. If anyone can point me to a reliable recipe I shall be grateful.
After the Sunday's deluge everything is greener than ever. It's the only colour in my photos I think, apart from a little brown and a blue sky. And of course the white blossom. I love those little spherical hawthorn buds, and the great froths of cow parsley everywhere.
I trotted down to the local hall to pick up left-behind clothes from the weekend's camping. Oh they were horrible. Think thick mud, stagnant water and grit, all nicely sealed in a plastic bag in a warm place for three days.
Back at the homestead the cricket had degenerated into fury. There had been shouting and throwing and storming off. A late night too far I fear.
At the allotment today the asparagus was knee high. It grows at three times the speed when it's been raining. There's a lovely big pile in the fridge now. I might make Delia's asparagus and cheese tart which is scrumptious, or I might go for the easy option of steaming it briefly and adding some butter and salt.
I had a bit of a surprise when I opened the shed: a hornet. I've never seen one before, it was massive. at least an inch and a half long. I took a terrible photo of it, and then someone came to ask me something and by the time I'd finished talking it flew away. I was going to put a pound coin next to it (my last one after the children bled me dry at the football tournament) for scale. On reflection that might have been a bit ambitious, I'm not sure that hornets that have just been dazzled by sudden sunlight in their dark shed are hugely appreciative of being made to pose next to coin of the realm. I would be The Girl Who Annoyed The Hornet And Learned A Valuable Lesson. Anyway, here's the photo, such as it is. Enormous remember.
I wonder if there will be more... I shall open the shed door with a little less aplomb next time.
That hornet looks terrifying! You're braver than me. If I saw it, I wouldn't stop to take a picture, I'd be out of there!
ReplyDeleteEllie
Xxx
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Be careful, hornet stings are really painful. I hope there won't be more. I love your photos today, the green and white is so beautiful and fresh. I'm envious of your fresh asparagus, it's going to be delicious no matter how you serve it!
ReplyDeleteMay is such a beautiful month, so lush with the greens and the white blossoms.
ReplyDeleteYou're very brave having those cricket stumps so near to your raised beds! That hornet looks terrifying close up (and probably not so close up too!). The thought of your asparagus is making me drool - I haven't tried that recipe; I must give it a go. xx
ReplyDeleteMy son texted me from uni last week to say he'd lain on the grass after an exam and been stung by a hornet. Luckily he was fine apart from a good deal of pain, but he'd taken a photo and after a bit of research discovered that huge Asian Hornets have been arriving in this country from the continent which have very powerful stings. It's probably a good thing you didn't ask it to pose for you. On a happier note I love your green and white photos - they capture this month perfectly.
ReplyDeleteCathy x
Hornets ARE enormous. I always give them a wide berth. Gorgeous verdant photos, CJ. They capture the pure abundance of the season beautifully. I hope your asparagus feast makes up for having to deal with the marinated camping clothes. Sam x
ReplyDeleteTake cars with the hornets... Nasty little things! You have reminded me to look out for the elderflowers
ReplyDeleteAs always I am so impressed with the beauty you capture in your photos. I have to admit to been a tad envious with regard to the asparagus, my mouth is watering just thinking about asparagus wrapped in ham and smothered in a cheese sauce. Yum!
ReplyDeleteA good post and lovely pictures. There seem to be lots of hornets around this year as I keep seeing them mentioned. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteSeriously, is all that gorgeous greenery just at the end of your garden? What a lovely escape route, green and white is my favourite colour combination. The cricket stumps remind me of our annual Christmas family get togethers with the essential game of backyard cricket. Without fail a ball would find it's way to my mum's delicate person.
ReplyDeleteHornets are whoppers for sure and less friendly than wasps in my experience. You know me and flying things but even I give them a wide berth. Glorious photos and yuk to the marinated steamed washing xx
ReplyDeleteLove those pictures! Mother Nature certainly knows a thing or two about colour combinations. Envious of your asparagus. Not at all envious of your hornet.
ReplyDeleteI just identified an elder near the entrance to our woods, but unfortunately there were only two flower clusters that were still white. Oh well, at least now I know where to look for berries, which I actually want more anyway. However, I love elderflower liquor, which I don't think is the same as cordial...
ReplyDeleteWe have big hornets here, wasps and bees too. I do not want to meet your big one, be careful opening the shed. Love all the green, the dirty clothes not so much.
ReplyDeleteMeredith
Glorious images of green and white dear C.J, so delightful and soothing, I can imagine the scent is also lovely, white flowers seem to be always more fragrant to attract insects since they lack bright colours.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your asparagus, delicious in a tart, quiche or steamed. Good shot of the hornet, I hope she hasn't decided to set up house in your shed.
xoxoxo ♡
The countryside is lovely at the moment as your photos show. Maybe you will have a hornets nest close by or even in your shed!
ReplyDeleteEvery photo a tonic CJ, thank you. I use Sarah Raven and Hugh F-W for recipe guidance when I make elderflower cordial and this year I'm going to have a go at making elderflower 'champagne' too. I will keep a weather eye out for hornets. I got stung on the palm of my hand by a wasp a few weeks ago. I was delving into a sack of netting in my shed and must have woken up a hibernating wasp. Silly really because I'm used to wasps building their beautiful cone-shaped nests in my shed. The cricket stumps took me back, in a very good way. And lucky me I've got reinforcements arriving this weekend to help eat up the asparagus.
ReplyDeleteI've not commented before, though I have been reading your lovely blog for a while. I have to say you have a real way with words CJ, your language and style are a real joy. You often make me laugh out loud and the posts are always interesting. Photos are good too! Try Sophie Grigson's cordial recipe - I make it every year. xx
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed all your white and green.. but not the big stinging bug. Bravo on making the cordial.. you're so industrious! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has read that we are to have a mass invasion of the things this year, and as someone who is frightened by the tiniest of flies this has been playing on her mind! ;) xxx
ReplyDeleteHornet, eek!! I would not be cool with that. I am the woman who freezes and makes a really silly whimpering noise when a wasp is around, such an idiotic way to respond I know, but they scare me.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, hornet aside, what glorious photos. I think this post, and green and white, is the essence of May. xx