Camera shenanigans

(Just in passing, I really like the word 'shenanigans').  I have been having some problems with my camera recently.  It is a little point and shoot Kodak M23 which has been really reliable, easy to use and takes lovely photos.  I am not a photographer by any means (although I do enjoy taking photos) and need something easy to use.  My camera still takes good pictures, but the computer bit inside (you guessed it, I am not au fait with technology) decided to go completely mad and not do anything I wanted it to.  In fact, although I told it not to, it decided to delete all 340 photos on my memory card, much to my horror.  You know that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach - well, I definitely had that.  Once I realised that, luckily, I had saved most of the photos onto my computer, it wasn't so bad.  However, I decided that a new camera purchase should be made.
I did my research, waded through loads of reviews, got completely baffled as I trawled through all sorts of technical descriptions and then I bought this one, a Sony W800:

photo from http://www.sony.co.uk

It was like my old Kodak, in that it was small and would fit in my pocket.  However, once I had charged it up and tried it, I found that there was a delay between clicking the shutter button and it actually taking a photo.  This wasn't great as I do like taking the odd photo of wildlife now and again.  I also found it took a while to bring the photos into focus on the screen.  Whether this was a problem with just this particular camera, or across the range,  I wasn't sure, but I knew it wasn't the one for me, so took it back.

I have now bought this one (another Kodak - FZ201 - but a little bit bigger and with more zoom than my previous one). 

image from https://www.ephotozine.com/

I have been having a practise with it in the garden...

 I rescued this little cyclamen from being swamped by a self-seeded astrantia and verbena bonariensis.

It looks much happier now.

 I challenged the camera with a back-lit blueberry branch.  I think it managed pretty well.

 Deep shade and brilliant sunshine (and the shadow of my arm!).

 Using the zoom...

 ...and again...

 ...and again.

 Beautiful cosmos flowers (they were really late to flower this year).

 My favourite aster 'Little Carlow', which helpfully tells the bees which flowers have been pollinated (they are the ones with the reddish centres).

 Magnolia Susan with buttery yellow leaves against a blue autumn sky.

 Vivid pink aster 'September Ruby'. That colour just sings out, doesn't it?

Finally, my replacement hanging basket, still flowering and looking good (until the first frosts come, which can't be too far away now).

So far, I am really pleased with my new camera.  I hope it lasts for a good few years.

Beautiful Blueberries

 I don't grow all that many edible things in the garden; chives, mint, raspberries (a new introduction this year), beetroot (for the first time this year) and blueberries (one plant, 'Goldtraube', originally and two more added this year, 'Blue Pearl').  I have found that 'Goldtraube has been an excellent plant, producing lots of berries.  Last year it managed enough for five lots of little cakes.  This year, so far, I'm on the second batch of cakes.

 Every day there are more luscious fruits to collect and they seem to be ripening almost in front of my eyes!  I love the grey bloom on the skins.  I don't really enjoy raw blueberries as I am always disappointed that they are not full of juice.

 However, when they are added to a basic sponge mix, they are lovely!

Baking them in a cake does seem to bring out more juice and the slightly tart flavour of the fruit contrasts beautifully with the sweet cake mixture. 
(I posted something very similar about the blueberries in July 2012 which shows things are still a little bit behind where they were last year, despite the baking hot weather we had in July this year.  I consider the blueberries to be one of my small gardening successes and I hope you don't mind me repeating myself a bit.)

In the Garden

 I have finally been able to get into the garden and finish planting my tulips this afternoon.  They are all in pots, except Little Beauty, which I have popped into a border.  All the tulip photos below are from Peter Nyssen's website, which is where my tulips came from this year (the first time they have been sent in proper paper bags!)

 Above is Carnival de Nice.

 Here is Black Parrot (and the bulbs in the first photo are this variety).

 This is Little Beauty, which was sent to me in my Cosy Autumn Swap.

 Triumph Double mixed.

 Ballerina, which is supposed to have a lovely fragrance.

 Finally, Blue Parrot, another gift from the Autumn swap.  I think the garden will be a riot of colour next Spring and I am really looking forward to seeing it in all its glory.



In the garden now, just a few colours remain.  Above is the blueberry bush about three weeks ago - with fiery red and orange leaf colours.

 Here it is this afternoon, with just a few leaves remaining and if you touch the stem, the leaves gently fall off.

I still have some roses flowering, despite the rain and cold.  This one is New Dawn and looks beautiful with the raindrops still glistening. 
I have also started the annual wrapping of pots with bubble wrap, because it won't be long before the frosts start in earnest.  Every year I say 'I'm going to get rid of some pots', but somehow, during the Spring and Summer, I seem to end up with several more.  The bubble wrap may not look very elegant but it does give the plants some insulation and protection.  I still have about fifteen  more to do, so I had better get on with it!

Blueberry cakes

So, with the weekend here, I got on with my baking.  I used a normal cake recipe, enough for 12 little cakes and added the blueberries as the final ingredient. 

They looked lovely in their raw state...

 ...and even lovelier once cooked.

 The blueberries are much juicier after cooking and have just a touch of tartness, which contrasts well with the sweet cake.

Of course, I needed to test one, just to make sure they were up to standard before offering them to Chris.  The verdict?  Yum, yum, yum!  Thank you to my little blueberry bush.

My first fruit harvest this year

I am very excited.  My first fruit harvest of the year from my single blueberry bush (Goldtraube).  OK, so there isn't all that much fruit, probably about a small handful, but enough to add to some little cakes, I think.  Baking at the weekend is definitely on the list of things to do.
Last week, there were only green berries but now, after some much needed sunshine, here they are in all their blue/black/purple glory.  There are more on the bush to come though, probably about the same amount again.  As this is one of the only edible things I grow (the others being mint and chives), it required some form of celebration.
Hoorah for the blueberry!

Autumn descends...gently

As I had a wander around the garden yesterday, I noticed how gently autumn has descended on the plants. There are still colours to be seen, but in the fading leaves and flowerheads. Rich shades of red, orange, yellow, russet and brown are dominant, but there are still some flashes of brighter colour as a final fanfare.

Hydrangea Arborescens Annabelle, gracefully turning to brown

Rich chocolate and yellow from the leaves of Magnolia 'Susan'

Jewel shades in the leaves of a Blueberry

A flash of brilliant fuchsia pink in the rose leaves of 'John Paul II'

Although it is sad to think that the garden is getting ready to hibernate for a few months, the wonderful thing about gardening is the promise of next year. And there are still some beautiful colours to enjoy before Winter comes.