Chaenomeles japonica

Just in case anyone was worried that I had overdone it on the pruning front…all is well 🌺 #chaenomeles-japonica

soo beautiful

Thank you 😊 @racha

Looks lovely

Thanks Claire. It certainly looks very happy 😃 @loveofplants

Looking good

Thanks Joan 😊 @joannie.a

Well that’s a distinct improvement 💪😂 #chaenomeles #chaenomeles-japonica #flowering-quince

Mine is only a baby, I didn't think they got that big 😱

🤣🤣🤣 I’m wondering if I forgot to prune it last year 🤔 This one seems to be particularly vigorous for some reason! @pelly

You need to go back to drinking wine whilst you're pruning 😂😂😂

I didn’t even have a cup of tea Jane! I was on a mission - I did the clematis montana too 😳💪💪 @pelly

Wow, you really were on a mission 👍💪

Is there anything left of it!?

Double tea

😂 Yes, don’t worry. I’ve just pruned it back to the main stems plus 2-3 leaves. It will be fine… 🤞 @lesliecole49

I deserved a good Italian red after that Aly! 😉🍷 @thehardygardener

At first I thought it was unhappy by being taken over by Crocosmia but now it is obvious that something has gnawed away at the bark 😢 There are some new shoots so I’m sure it will recover but it will be a few years before I’m able to make quince gin again...

Oh no that’s a shame

13 Feb 2019 • More signs of #spring So many flower buds on this ❤️🌺❤️

Wow mine isn’t that far on yet...I keep cutting it back I wonder if I shouldn’t 🤔❤️

I cut mine back every year Elaine, in early summer. When do you do yours? @wagsmomthompsonbtinternetcom

@awomanonabike usually after it’s flowered Jacqueline because it’s very untidy, so that’ll be the wrong time..

No that’s what I do...I’m just usually a bit late 😉😂 @wagsmomthompsonbtinternetcom

29 Dec 18 • To say I’m disappointed in my “quince” harvest would be a bit of an understatement...

😱 😱 They are completely inedible raw aren’t they, but cooked or put in gin and they are all floral gorgeousness 😃

What have you done with them? Scroll left and you’ll find the recipe for quince gin 🍸🍸 @scaryskates

That’s enough for a (small) bottle of gin. It really is lovely and looks wonderful too, if you make it in a jar and cut the quince crossways 👍 @scaryskates

Tis a tad underwhelming 😆 x x

I made quince jam which is delicious with cheese @awomanonabike and @scaryskates - gutted I didn't know about the quince gin!

Well that’s one more than me! 😂 although I did try, several times, to destroy my quince bush. I still have a jar of jam from last year though (or was it the year before 🤔)

Just a bit Claudia 🤣 I can only assume it was the very dry summer, as I usually get loads 🤔😕 @clipperty

I’ve made quince cheese Carole, which is very similar and delicious, but the gin is 👌 @carolecuttingitfine @scaryskates

🤣🤣 ...but I haven’t any gin as I gave it all away @rachelbrooks

Definitely doing that next year! As like @rachelbrooks I suspect the jam will last forever!? 😂

Oh yes I remember you did Jacq! 🙈 well I’ve used one jar Carole, I use it most as a glaze for meat or I put it in the gravy sometimes...I don’t think gin would last this long! 😂 @carolecuttingitfine

28 Apr 2018 • One of my favourite shrubs. It needs a bit of taming but is great for holding up crocosmia later in the season...and then there’s the gin 😬

One word to describe this, wow!!!!❤❤❤❤

Thank you 😊 They’re a gorgeous flower aren’t they. I think they get less attention than they might because they’re so common 🤔 @midnightgardener

Gorgeous 😍

Thank you Melanie 😊 @greenfinger14

4 January 2018 •One more find 🧐 With another two half rotten ones, enough to make 50ml gin for next Christmas 😂😂

4 Jan 18

On rations at your house I see 😂😂

😂😂 It was so good Jane but I gave it all away. This year I used them all to make quince cheese, then found these yesterday when tidying in the garden. It takes a year before it’s ready to drink... 🥃🎄 @pelly

So let me see.....I need to be there on the 4th January next year. Chin chin 🍷🍷

😂 See you then. Chin chin 🍷🍷 @pelly

If you remember me making quince liqueur a year ago, here it is - & it’s delicious. Only downside is I seem to have given it all away, except about 100ml which I’ve just shared out 😂

I could do with a few sips of that to warm me up! Soooo cold xx

I do! Even saved it in my favourites and then cut my quince down! 🙈 enjoy your snifter..! 😂

Here you go Claudia 🍸 @clipperty

Oh sorry Rachel! I remember now you mention it 🌺😢🍸 @rachelbrooks

I will take a wee dram with you

Cheers Charlotte! 🥃 @charlotte

Cheers Jacqueline sounds delicious 🥃😋

Cheers Pauline 🍸 Hic! 😉😂 @pauline33

Chin chin 🍷🍷

Just found this little lot in amongst the leaves. I might try quince cheese again. I’m sure I read that Night Slater uses it when he is roasting a ham...

These are from a very old bush, which might explain the quantity. No they aren’t sweet. In fact they are rock hard and inedible until cooked, but the perfume when you cook them is worth it! It is fabulous. @columbiariver

It’s worth cooking them even if I don’t - the smell is soooo good 😊 @columbiariver

They're almost as big as apples. I might try quince cheese again, though I'll try not to cook it as long this time 🤔

Oh, lovely with a chunk of Manchego 🧀🧀🧀

It would have been if I hadn't managed to caramelise it! @pelly

Whoops 😂😂😂

What is quince cheese? 🤔 Mine ripened really early this year - mostly while we were away so I haven’t done anything with them 😏 although I still have a jar of jelly in the fridge from last year! I will be digging mine out soon, so I’ve missed my last chance!

Oh no! Why? I love my flowering quince - I have three! Quince cheese is very similar to quince jelly, just a bit thicker and you can slice it. It's served with cheese. The Spanish call is membrillo and serve it with manchego 🧀 @rachelbrooks

It sounds like my jelly is more cheese like...😬you can definitely put a knife through it! And my quince is in the raised border in my front garden, it’s in the middle of my lavender hedge and I will be redoing the border soon and it’s just in the way. (I also spike myself on it quite a lot getting in and out of the car!) I will miss the gorgeous coral flowers when everything else is bare! 😏

Sounds lovely...Fair enough. I'll let you off 😉 Do you not have a dark wall that needs a quince?! One of mine is in virtually full shade and still flowers and fruits 😃 @rachelbrooks

Not really...😏

🤔 @rachelbrooks

I feel some gin coming on...but haven't tasted last year's yet...

#chaenomeles #japanesequince

Oh wow! I see that you have a gorgeous Olive jar. Where did you find it? I have been looking for a large Olive jar. When i do find one they are unaffordably expensive.

Hi Dinyar, I'm really sorry but I can't remember (I think it was a present). I've had it for years. I've never put a plant in it as I would never get it out again, but I love the shape of it and I use it to put sticks and canes in. Good luck in your hunt! @dinyar

Keep it safe from any damage. I would not suggest putting any plant. It look beautiful just the way it is. Just for your info they can be anywhere from $800 to $5000 and even more depending on size, age, origin,etc. You are very lucky. Enjoy it and try to show off by making it more visible.

I will look after it but I am absolutely certain it won't have cost anywhere near that much. More like £50 or £60 😊 @dinyar

Been bottling up my Japanese Quince Eau de Vie. Needs to mature for another 6 months... then 🥂

Well I might have had a little taste - just to check - and it is pretty delicious! 😊 @columbiariver

Ooh! That looks interesting...what did you do? 🤔 may have to try this this year instead, the jelly went down like a lead balloon! 😬

@rachelbrooks You slice the quince very thinly then just leave for 6 months in sugar & gin (or in my case eau de vie as I had a bottle I'd bought cheaply in France last year). I can't remember the quantities but will check in the morning. I think Jane @pelly made some too 😊

Not me Jaqueline, but I vaguely remember seeing something on here @rachelbrooks 😊😊😊

Oops, sorry Jane I'll have to go back & cheek who it was... When I first posted about this in a "garden" photo, you said you were going to try it too... Glad it's not just me who does things like that 😂😂😂 @pelly

Rachel if you (or anyone else) fancies trying this, here's the recipe: 500g Japanese quince, 350g sugar, 1 litre eau de vie. Slice quince thinly & add to jar with sugar & spirit. Shake daily until sugar has all dissolved. Strain & bottle after 6 months. Leave another 6 months before drinking 🥂 @rachelbrooks @pelly

Ooh thank you, I will give it a go in the Autumn 👍🏼👍🏼😘

Excellent! Whatever else, it looks lovely as it steeps 😊 @rachelbrooks

Yes, it looks a beautiful colour 👌🏼

I love the patterns in the slices too. OH says it tastes "interesting". Actually he really liked it! 😊 @rachelbrooks

An unexpected snow fall this morning...

Just a light dusting Rachel. @rachelbrooks #buds

Morning Jaqueline. No snow here thankfully as it's greenhouse mending day. 😂😂

I'm heading out to our greenhouse too. Still haven't put the vine back up after it was brought down by the weight of the grapes in the summer #badgardener 😂 Hopefully yours will be even better than it was before Doris got her hold on it! 👍🏻

Very pretty pic 👍🏼

Thank you Justin. Snow may be a pain but it does make everything look very pretty ❄️🌺❄️ @justin

Ah it looks ever so pretty though ❄️♥️❄️

Beautiful picture 😍 another thing GT has done is get me to slow down and look for all the smaller beauty opportunities in the garden! 😊

Gorgeous ❤️

It does, doesn't it Rachel @rachelbrooks

Thank you Elisa and I completely agree with you 😊🌿❤️😊@riakat

Thank you both 😊 @gjones