October at Rhine happens to be picture-perfect golden. So yesterday was the first time to ride our bikes and tend the garden after a bruised ligament episode.
Leaf-raking happens to be zen-like bliss. Taking in the first rosehips as well.
We have this routine of cooking them whole til soft, filtering the pulp through musselin, avoiding the itchy-scratchy seed-clearing routine. First brew will go into rosehip-jam, being one of our November's delights, second brew will give the freshest, richest, rose-flavoured infusion ever, each year.
Over breakfast at our anniversary getaway, we pondered about horseradish.
Our hosts are Austrian by heritage, so they have a strong sense and tradition of a good 'Kren', how horseradish is called in the Austrian Alps.
It's quite invasive, but very good for soils, the essential oils clearing fungi and pests, especially if planted under fruit trees. It is one of the easiest way to get rid of a head-cold. And a nice condiment, of course.
While raking, I pondered about the hip-deep hole, our neighbours were digging, saw Axel join them after a while. Heard talks and moans of meter-deep roots.
Moved forward, went: 'Digging horseradish, aren't you?'
We ended up planting some of the roots between Little Apple and Plum, putting some into a sand-bucket at our cellar, and cleaning one for a self-experiment.
Axel is committed to the task, peeling, shredding and processing, on his birthday today. Might add some googles.
Happy Rosehips & Horseradish Birthday, Love!
P.S.: Oudolf's & Kingsbury's book on planting arrived. First look - amazing.
Stay tuned.
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