Despite drought - or maybe because of it? - there are tons of small crabapples and rosehips. The wild-type crabapples around here are large (about an inch/2.5cm wide) and green-gold. The smaller ones are escaped domestic crabapples, and vary in color from deep red all the way to yellow. This one is growing wild in the state park. I'm sort of tempted to pick a batch of them for a little jelly, or make a batch of the rosehip jelly this year. On the fence about it. They are very pretty, help feed the wildlife, and don't seem 'aggressive' enough to count as invasive. You just find them here and there, usually right on the edge of the forest. I don't really NEED any jelly from these - but it would be such a glorious color!!

Raspberry.

I did very little productive today, in the aftermath of the big family gathering, but I did get down to the pond this evening and pick the black raspberries there. They come ripe slightly later than the ones at the top of the ridge. I have several pound of them to preserve one way or another tomorrow morning. Pie? Frozen berries for smoothies? A nice dilemma to have.

I really need to do something about the kale and chard in the garden. I need to put some in the freezer or just pick the oldest leaves and give them to Hero and Nutmeg as treats. Missile, too, if he wants some. The next couple of months will be BUSY.