It’s autumn and the fruit is ripe for the picking. Time to head out to Bilpin to check out the orchards.
To start off, a pit stop under the oak tree.
And some refreshments.
Then, the main event.
Hubby’s height was put to great use as he picked 3 types of apples, 3 types of pears and some plums – 18kg in all – hauled it back to the car! What did I do? I took care of Bridie Beagle, who enjoyed her walk around the orchard.
More interesting I think was my photo of these apple blossoms. I love the contrast of the soft pink against the clear, blue sky.
Unfortunately, that’s all I have from the orchard this year. I’ll have to look around for something else interesting to post about now.
Remember last year’s visit to Bilpin – the glut of apples, all ripe and ready to be picked. I was so intoxicated that I vowed to go back the following year. But things weren’t so rosy. The apples had been eaten by fruit bats. What survived their attacks had been damaged by hail weeks before. Hence the apples weren’t exactly so perfect, nor were there many to pick. BB and I however managed to pick 13kg, which were distributed to our families. There will be weeks of apple crumbles, tarts and pies to come.
Can’t help but post one more shot of autumn colour! Love the fallen leaf, probably because there isn’t an oak/maple tree in my street, and hardly even in my suburb.
I have to follow it by one more gratuitous shot of some glorious Pink Lady apples. Can’t believe how many apples I’ve eaten this week… Is there such a thing as an apple overdose?
Walked around the corner… and ran into a bee hive! These bees were so hard-working that they were working on a public holiday! No rest for the wicked…
A couple of weeks ago I talked to a friend of mine who went apple-picking in the Blue Mountains. Having never picked an apple off a tree before, I wanted to give it a try, and fortunately got the opportunity on the weekend.
We headed up to the little village of Bilpin and Pine Crest Orchard nice and early with our trusty Coles bags. There were a few Granny Smiths and Golden Delicious, but the prize picks were the Pink Lady apples. There were rows and rows of trees, all laden with big, bright red fruit.
We were beside ourselves. I immediately ‘sampled’ three apples on-site – they were crispier than a, er, crisp – and then picked enough to last at least the rest of the month. Add to that a cool, sunny day, and I was in heaven. Now, I’m busy compiling a list of apple recipes. I’ve already made a simple apple tart with my Pink Ladies, and it was wonderful. Any other suggestions?
Static and Silence 