waiting for the fruits

It's really no surprise to me that with our Summer comes me waiting....waiting for cooler and kinder weather for my vegetable gardening to resume in full abundance....and for the bugs to vacate.
However Summer this year has turned out to be a little more productive in the backyard thanks to my fruit trees....if you are willing and able to wait that is.

To those interested in a Summer garden update from my place.... grab a cool drink or a hot chocolate depending on your hemisphere and come for a short wander amidst the green.....
We can start with our cumquat's, which survived last years onslaught of leaf miner and sooty mould thanks to my homemade white oil .

They have just treated my nose to their sweet smelling citrus blossoms.... how I love that intoxicating scent..... and now there are budding baby fruit all over.
I can almost smell the marmalade too that we will be spreading on our winter toast this year.

There are also Hawaiian guava's ripening on my little tree for the first time.... I can't wait to taste that pretty and sweet homegrown pink flesh.

Papaya's are in true abundance fattening by the day.
My mint should have bounced back just nicely from the heat by the time these fatties are ready. It's a perfect Summer flavour combination don't you agree?

The lady finger banana's are nicely bundled inside their blue and silver bag. Finally safe from visiting bats and any other marauders who might enjoy a fruity midnight snack. They too are slow to grow and ripen.....It's a patient process this waiting....

And why would my favourite figs be any faster than the rest....they seem to tease me the most..... especially when I brush through their leaves and the fragrance similar to their ripe bodies invades my nostrils and fires my desire to eat them now.

The immediate reward for my patience however, I console myself, are my aubergine fingers. They are ready for eating with many more still to come. Mmm chargrilled....stuffed....roasted.....baba ganoush?

And for balance because that's what I'm working on this year.....
And because everything is not always perfect in any garden......
I have had some disappointments, aside from waiting, along the way.

When I removed my cucumbers after many delicious harvests I inadvertently destroyed the home of some bugs....well quite a few bugs......who then found their way to my sugar baby vines. Needless to say I ended up with chewed stems and rotten fruit. No watermelons will be eaten here this year.


And it seems no capsicums either.... they are providing loads of fruit which are also rotting immediately before they start to colour..... a little mysterious and quite a bit disappointing. I think I may need to consult the books.

And in a final true lesson of balance.....my stunning passion fruit flower that had me so very excited recently about pending harvests and Summer Pavlova's drowning in pulp has remained at just one. Yes one and one only. A beautiful large and round golden passion fruit hanging where the flower blossomed while the rest of the vine continues to grow with amazing vigour. I think it will be THE best tasting passion fruit I've indulged in in a long time...maybe I will share it with you.

I must admit however that the best thing that comes from waiting for the fruits of your labour is that it makes everything taste all that much sweeter. And that is a good good thing.