Fireweed jelly

Alright, well, the last month kind of got away from me! Despite a lot of rain and cold temperatures, the garden is chugging along, with the cooler-season pants doing well.

The things that need heat (squash, melons, peppers, eggplants) have been suffering and I've lost a fair number of starters. The fruit trees and bushes are loving the moisture, though with evidence of cherries and lots of raspberries this year.

The spinach is bolting and also taking a beating from leaf miners.

In better news, the corns is up and looks to be happier in this sunnier spot.

The brussel sprouts also seem to be doing pretty well and I went and bought a few more plans to fill in elsewhere.

Lots of last year's annuals have also self-seeded and returned.

On the weekend, we foraged some fireweed blossoms to make jelly. A few years ago, I tried some peony jelly and this was on my list of alternatives to try.

The blossoms were beautiful and fragrant.

A quick boil extracted the colour and flavour and it was insanely purple.

I used some pectin and lemon juice and sugar to make a jelly and then canned it.

Very ruby coloured in the end. Tastes floral--not all that different from rose or peony jelly.

 

Now back to the weeding!