Persimmon Fuju the non astringent kind that you eat crunchy

Clare writes in 

Lovely to get your cheerful newsletter on a wet and soggy day north of Auckland.

Persimmons are sensational when they are still quite firm (...and not like river slime), sliced very thinly and added to a salad...say with some fresh peppery emerald green watercress. Not only does the salad look beautiful, the persimmon tastes good too

I suggested by return that she tries  this kind ,sliced thinly with blue cheese on a cracker or home made crostini with a chilled glass of white wine.  just yum 

Persimmon of the astringent kind 

Verena's Mums tip to try with the astringent kind sounds delicious and how easy is that for dessert

Hi Lloyd and Harry

About Persimmons and river slime.  My mum's recipe of 'Khaki' you must try

KHAKI A LA ALICE

Slice the persimmon into quarters, not quite cutting right through. Drizzle some high quality Kirsch over it. Drape with softly whipped cream and eat, savouring every bit of of this beautiful dessert.  

OMG  Dave down the road gave Harry a box of pears.. they must be windfall from a large tree and I'd be guessing that they are Packham's Triumph.  They are just so delicious as only tree ripened home grown fruit can be. Firm inside, juicy melt in your  mouth flesh. I have been eating them every day just because they are so delicious. If you like to eat pears then you just have to grow your own for the exceptional flavour. 

I was sent a recipe for Almond, Pear and Chocolate Cake which I have put on the website in the What's cooking section under Sweets.  I haven't tried it yet but it looks easy and sounds delicious so might have a go on the weekend.  

Its been so wet up till now and so I have become behind in my weed spraying so am hoping for a fine few days just to catch up on some chores. This cold patch will really help sort the roses to finish for the season, give them a week or so and hopefully the flowers will stop and the leaves will fall so be in with that copper or lime sulphur and you will really get them to rest. Don't prune in our climate here until the end of july or if it gets cold enough that they wont grow 

A great range of Leucadendrons have arrived.  This is their time of year to look gorgeous and they are supurb as cut flowers for this time when cut flowers are getting scarce.  

Grevilleas are also showing their colours well at present.

We have the stunning new Jury Camellia Roma Red in stock.  This has a crisp red formal bloom which is beautifully shown off with it's deep green background.

And of course all the roses shown above are new in stock and now available.

Enjoy the weekend if you are out in the garden and if you are taking advantage of the long weekend and going away then travel safe. 

Cheers