Homestead update

 The rains have been frequent as you can see the palms have been swamped.  The MacArthur palm doesn't seem mind at all.  Luckily the water recedes within a day or two it will be back to normal unless there is more heavy rain.

 One little puppy doesn't mind getting wet at all and doesn't

need any excuse to go for a swim. I believe he is part if not full Labrador. 

 The front patio is nearly completed, the lattice work is up and waiting to be prepared for painting. It will be painted in light green like the sunburst.

 I was really tired of this eyesore and had been itching to replace it.

I told Remington my carpenter what I wanted and showed him a few photos. He went to work on it and this is the results. The wood used is treated Honduras pine, it is a denser and stronger pine than the North American yellow pine.

 I applied Thompson water sealer for outdoor wood to prevent water damage and going grey. I  like the natural wood look and will have to continue to keep it oiled.

 I love my new gate! Thank you Remington! If you need a very good carpenter I can recommend Remington just drop me a line!

 On the other side of the homestead the garlic vine (mansoa alliacea) is making a spectacular entrance.

 

August has come to an end, the garden is now lush from the recent rains, slugs and snails are having a feast. My daily and nightly patrols have taken on a more urgent air. I am using salt to eradicate them. Some people say beer will help but I am not sure. Some have told me to use white lime and I will try it again. I am not sure how effective it is in this rainy season. Any non chemical method you use please share. 

It is also time to start pruning the poinsettias, the snow on the mountain and mussaendas if they need it. Now is the time to weed the garden beds, with all the moist soil weeds are easier to pull in our clay soils.  

Golden apples (spondias cythera) aka pommecythere, june plum are still small and are great for making juice. 

To all who are reading and following this blog have a great weekend!

somethings about Martinique

I have some Martinique cuphea planted in a bed with some Christmas palms . I noticed that the cuphea started circling the palm tree. I really liked how it looked, it is very attractive  so now I will be using this plant as a ground cover around palms.

Here I am using the cuphea as a filler/cover for this large bed where I have three Singapore plumeria  trees growing.

Golden apples, pommecythere, june plum, (spondias cythera, spondias dulcis) are now in season. Many years ago  (about 30 yrs) I was a regular visitor to Martinique where I discovered a green drink served in many of the  restaurants and cafes. I asked about it and was told it was called prune. Being adventurous, I ordered a glass and recognized a familiar taste. I was hooked! Now at that time in Barbados, I had never seen nor tasted this juice. We only ate the fruit green or when ripe. But this was heavenly! Years later it was introduced to the island and now it has become a favourite drink with the locals. I have been thinking of Martinique lately and have caught up with some old  Martiniquan friends recently. This has made me nostalgique.

So I decided to make some juice. I picked about a dozen apples, and washed them. I cut them down the middle with my chef's knife and continued cutting them into smaller pieces. It was hard work banging on the cutting board to split them open and  of course I chose a more difficult method.

I removed the spiny seed and started juicing the pieces of fruit in the juicer. This can also be done in a blender with some water and strained. I got approximately four cups of  pure juice.

I added eight cups of water, the juice of two limes and some sugar to taste. Wow it was deeeelicious! The only thing I hate about making this juice is the cleaning up afterwards. The juicer is a pain in the neck to clean, but I conclude that it is worth it.

P.S. I have recently started another blog my fashionista years

what's in season

Malay apple, pommerac, wax apple, french cashew

Pa louis mango no threads the sweetest mango in my garden and the smell is so distinctive

Irwin mango very few threads, and a joy to eat. It is large, very fleshy and has a small flat seed

Julie mango another very sweet mango with soft flesh, I just slice it and scoop it out with a spoon

golden apple, otaheite apple, java plum, pommecythere

star fruit, carambola, five fingers

west indian lime

I will soon be harvesting many varieties of fruit from my garden. Some of them I will make juices, pickles, chutneys, jams and preserves. I have three lime trees that are all heavily laden. I dumped many last year so this year I will to try to sell some to the super market. Will let you know the outcome.