damselfly Blue Tail
 |
| damselfly emerald |
 |
| Damselfly Common Blue |
 |
| damselfly mating |
Joined an outing organised by Irish Wildlife Trust to a couple of sites near pond and lake, to learn to identify and count dragonflies. They are beautiful insects, the leaders so knowlegeable, on top, it is a fantastic sunny day, by Irish standard.
On seed catalogue, there are so many tomato varieties to choose from, they all sounds and looks interesting. Every year I try a few different ones, different size/shape/colour etc, appreciate their looks and note the flavour. By now, I keep 3 that I will grow every year, because they are tasty, grow well, and have to restrict to trying only 3 new varieties each year.
One of this year’s trial variety is cherry tomato Pink Tiger. It is indeed a pretty cherry tomato, orange skin with lime green strips, a cute pointy end. The flesh is deep red, of good flavour, but not outstanding. The plant is a bit struggling in the greenhouse in this not very warm summer.
 |
| oyster with seaweed, oyster mouse |
 |
| squid ink cracker |
 |
| sunmer vegetables |
 |
| potato, with beef tongue |
 |
| beef tartare |
 |
| wild pigeon with raspberry savory sacue |
 |
| cherry tart |
 |
| goat cheese with pumpkin seed butter |
 |
| venison loin |
 |
| petit fours |
 |
| meadowsweet icecream |
 |
| soda bread |
 |
| crab meat tartlet |
 |
| chicken liver pate macaroon |
 |
| lobster bisque with trout roe |
Spending a night in Galway, the 4th biggest city in Ireland, on the west coast. The centre is lively, with quality shops and interesting architecture. Right near the old center is the harbour and river Corrib, with a walking path along the river for a long way up. There is a good balance of city life and natural beauty, in close proximity.
Not to mention it is a good base to visit beautiful west Atlantic coast. Galway is a good city to live if you are not too bordered by the more showery weather.
Bought cauliflower seedlings to plant in the outside bed covered by net to avoid white butterflies laying eggs on leaves. The problem with shop bought cauliflower seedlings is that they seems to grow and mature at the same time. Meaning you suddenly have a lot of cauliflower to harvest, and eat!
If I can’t finish eating them in time, I will bake and freeze for later use. Simply cut into florets, bake at 170˚C until soft, around 20 minutes.
To serve, season with salt, white pepper and olive oil, and mix in other veg/herbs like broad bean, semi dried tomato (from last year), basil etc.
First time to grow this variety of gooseberry with red skin. Berries matures a month later then white variety and half the size.
Red gooseberry is pretty to look at, must have more nutrients from the coloured skin, with more complex flavour, actually quite like gooseberry hybrid with blackcurrant!
 |
| chickweed |
 |
| lemon balm |
 |
| clover |
 |
| meadowsweet |
 |
| betony |
 |
| ragwort |
 |
| willow weed |
 |
| selfheal |
 |
| bird foot trefoil |
