I went to visit my bees in the orchard yesterday to see how they were  adjusting to their new home. I drove up the tiny track and into the field, to be hit my a wave of perfume from the apple trees. There are lots of very old varieties there, and lucky me has been given permission to pick what I want! I didn't need inviting twice!

Many of the apples are ready, but it was the Damsons that caught my attention; purple bloomed baubles hanging in such numbers, the branches of the trees and shrubs that bore them headed earthward as if they were bowing to me.  I bowed back, and thanked them for their bounty. Testing them for ripeness, I gently squeezed them to see if they were hard, or whether their firmness was giving just a little under my fingers. They seemed ready, so tried one,  as this is probably the best way to discern whether today was a good day to pick them, or whether I should leave them alone. The taste of a Damson is distinctive, sweet yet very sharp, a flavour I enjoy very much. Satisfied with their readiness, I  stuffed the pockets of my bee suit with them, leaving plenty for the birds. Doing this was  not the smartest idea as I now have purple stains all over its glowing whiteness.  I left the apples for another day, and pondered what to do with my haul.

When I got home I weighed them.  I had managed to stuff 2lbs of them into my pockets!  My first plan is Damson Gin, which alone with some of the other tipples I make this time of year (Sloe Gin, Blackberry Brandy, Raspberry Vodka), is a popular gift for the festive season (see I didn't say the C word), and also makes a good thank you gift and is great for trading as I have yet to meet someone who once they have tried it, doesn't fall for the warm healing it imparts.

I shall also make some Spiced Damson Chutney, which I love with sausages or Wild Boar burgers. Its great with cheeses too. I shall need to pick a few more for these, so will return in the week to gather a few more.

The Bees seem very content in their new home, and on inspection I discovered that they had completely guzzled the half-gallon of  1:1 sugar syrup I had left them, and had started to draw new comb on the frames either side of the nucleus I had installed. Both sides of these adjacent combs were covered in the most perfectly engineered honeycomb, ready for Boadicea to lay more brood and hopefully for them to store food to see them over the Winter dearth.  It was a warm sunny afternoon, and I could feel their contentedness as they hummed gently going about their business, pretty much ignoring my intrusion. They were much more docile this time, and I managed to watch them and get some good images too.  I think I am really going to love having bees.