Saturday 24 July 2021

About the Place

 


Squash-slash-pumpkin plants marching across the otherwise dry brown turf.  I have 5 plants and they, unlike the tomatoes, are all thriving and producing flowers.  I don't see any squash-slash-pumpkins being produced but you never know.  They've done well every other year.


I finally got the bougainvillia-without-thorns into a pot.  It is not supposed to grow very high so this pot should be a cosy home for it


The oregano bunch has dried out and is ready to be scrunched up and stored in a jar


The limoncello finally got finished too after 6 weeks of limon peels marinating in raki.

I made the sugar syrup and added it to the alcohol.  It sort of took my breath away.  I think the syrup needs adjusting.  My recipe did say to start with a syrup of one cup of sugar to one cup of water and to adjust according to taste.  More water will make it smoother and more sugar will obviously make it sweeter.  It needs a bit of both.

17 comments:

  1. Good luck with those squash slash pumpkins. Our made squllions of male flowers and no female ones. Does the limoncello mellow (does your chewing gum lose its flavour...) if you leave it contemplating its syrup for while? Our sloe gin needed time for the sugar and sloe extracts to get to know each other.

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    1. It will probably be September before I try it again so time will tell.
      There's another heatwave on the way. Its sent me into a sweaty tizz just thinking about it.
      I read up about those male and female flowers. Looks like I may get have the same problem. Other years they've produced a few at least. I'll continue watering them, for now

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    2. Sorry about the ear-worm by the way.

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  2. I do love bougainvillea's, used to have them when I lived in Texas, haven't tried them here.
    I had to laugh at the squash vine ~ a friend of mine gave me tomato starts to plant, but they all died. A little later this crazy looking plant started, and she thinks it may be pumpkin. (My plant identifier called it "winter squash"). Not sure our growing season will last long enough to get anything though!

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  3. I love everyone elses bougainvillia but maybe I'll love this one too. Small, no thorns. Sounds good. Their colour is always amazing

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  4. I love Bougainvilleas, especially thornless ones. They grow abundantly in Portugal.

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    1. A very similar climate. They are a blaze of colour just now

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  5. I'm betting that vine grows high, they are certainly a pretty flower to have.

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    1. I hope it grows high enough to cover our front gate posts. It looks healthy at least

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  6. I’m sure your Bougainville will thrive. Lots of water and love I haven’t checked my lemoncello I might have to do that sometime this week

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    1. I left my limoncello for weeks. It was just too hot and I couldn't be bothered doing the final stage. It should be ultra lemony but that raki has a strong taste. My daughter is coming to try it tonight. She's the real tester.

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  7. I hadn't heard of thornless Bougainvillea what a great idea, those thorns are lethal.

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    1. There are all sorts of bougainvillias now. Theres one that has no thorns, doesnt grow long waving branches and blooms all year. Our old neighbour has it but she found hers in Athens. This one is looking fine

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  8. I hope your bougainvillaea behaves and stays small. I am sure the squash/pumpkins will come. Enjoy your limoncello!

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    1. That limoncello needs tweaking. My daughter is coming to taste test tonight

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  9. I meant to grow some Oregano this year, but forgot. However, my PARSLEY has gone crazy; the best I've ever grown!

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    1. Our oregano in a pot is growing like mad but the parsely has shrivelled up. I would rather have your parsley.

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