Thursday, September 9, 2010

Colors of Fall - Yellow

The yellows of Fall are as lovely as the reds. The peaches have been delicious this year, and I tried a new recipe for Spiced Peaches, which I canned. Delicious!

I was hoping to get to the orchard for more peaches, but the apples are already being picked. Everything is early this year and I can't keep up!

The calendula was very happy this year and still blooming away. I started making oil late, but will have plenty of flowers still to make a good amount. Here is the start of the oil, already a deep rich yellow color after just a few days. I continue to add flowers as they bloom and cover with oil (I'm using jojoba oil for this batch) and should have a full jar soon.

And the goldfinches are back again this summer. This thistle started growing in the middle of the echinacea bed. It doesn't belong there but I knew how much the goldfinches liked it so let it grow. And sure enough, they come every evening to pick at the thistle as well as the echinacea heads. I know I'm asking for trouble as I see the seeds floating all over the place, but I'd rather have the birds and just weed next year...

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Linda, Your Spiced Peaches look and sound delicious - just the name itself is setting my mouth watering.

How very generous of you to leave thistles in your borders for the goldfinches. I do hope that they appreciate the gesture and that next year you do not, as a result of setting seed, have a whole colony of them!!

Linda said...

Thanks Edith, I think the birds do appreciate it. And it is fun to watch them. I find it amazing how they get out to the very end of the stem to get to the thistle flower head and although the stem bows down it is never too far. Although sometimes it looks like they will just fall right off their balance is just perfect. Worth any weeding that is needed next year!

Anonymous said...

The peaches look divine. Must make some calendula oil. www.mahoneysgarden.com

Linda said...

The peaches are yummy. The peach season seemed very short this year unfortunately so never got around to making another batch. I need to take a new picture of the calendula oil, the jar is almost full now and a beautiful yellow color.