Before I go outdoors to enjoy another splendid autumn day, I wanted to share some pictures showing how apple season has brought its bounty to the farmers market.
Friday is the day that my favorite apple farmer, whom I call the Apple Lady, brings her selection to the Union Square market.
This gives me an opportunity to sample apple varieties that are unfamiliar to me. No need to select a Red Delicious here, when you can take home a Golden Russet. I admit that some of my selecting is dependent on the visual beauty of the apples, and also whether they lean toward the sweet or tart. Any totally tart apple is not for me!
The recent weeks have also brought a change in which plants are available. I have purchased a white cyclamen and have learned that, in a few weeks, the Christmas cactus plants will make their first appearance.
I forgot to make a note (which I guess I could have done on my smart phone) of what the following plant is called. i just liked its shapes and thought it would be fun to draw. I didn't buy one, just took its picture.
This ground cover with its shiny dark green leaves and bright red berries is also a favorite subject of mine. Again, I postponed my purchase, but took a close up view.
It was difficult to resist adopting one of the cyclamens with the brilliant blooms, but I stuck with my serene, elegant white bloomer.
This final photograph shows you all which five apples came home with me. I've already forgotten the individual names of this quintet, but can report that the one on the lower right hand side of the picture tasted delicious!
It's such a grand time of the year ... not too hot, not too cool, and mostly, not too wet. During my indoors time, I continue to paint my Christmas tea cup cards, finish up a few more knitting projects, read a variety of books, and make soups.
It's been fun to reconnect with many familiar blogging friends via my still new connection with Instagram. Please do visit me There. I have no intention of abandoning blogging.
I do intend to vote next Tuesday, and might even be posting a report or two both here and there. Thank you all for your visits and comments, which certainly add to my knowledge of the world that we share.
Thank you for the visit to the apple lady. enjoy your selection. and thanks once more for a walk through your new York life. very interesting apples, flowers and all
ReplyDeleteThere is always some little corner of the city that expresses why I enjoy living here. xo
DeleteDear Frances, What lovely colors you have shared with us. Would love to know the name of your favorite apple. Maybe you can ask again next time.
ReplyDeleteI love white cyclamens and I love that the plant lasts such a long time. The waxy greens with red berries looks especially enticing. How fabulous it would look in an arrangement.
Gina, my current favorite apple is the Gala, but I picked out different ones yesterday from the Apple Lady, just to take advantage of the varieties she displays.
DeleteNext time, I'll make a note of the names of those varieties, using my iPhone...if I remember. xo
Oh My Goodness. You are so lucky to be able to live in such a vibrant area.
ReplyDeleteI gave up eating apples for a long time because they were so mealy, bland and watery. I only bought them at the Japanese market in Costa Mesa. But the last few years the apples have been getting so much better, even here in Tucson. I am very happy.
Lovely Fall photos.
cheers, parsnip
I know what you mean about some apples having that weird texture and no taste. No danger of that with what's available at Union Square. xo
DeleteThat yellow and red apple made me salivate. I too like sweet, fragrant apples. I bet the home grown ones are tastier. I'm going to buy a bag of fresh-cracked pecans today. Just love fresh nuts.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a pleasure to be able to buy apples that were picked the day before.
DeleteI would also like some of your fresh pecans. Yummy! xo
That bowl of apples look so inviting. They would make a lovely painting.
ReplyDeleteI might just get around to doing some sort of drawing or painting. xo
DeleteSo good to see 'real' apples from local growers rather than ones flown in from afar.
ReplyDeleteMuch, much better to keep those nearby orchards in business. xo
DeleteI would love to hear the views of a New Yorker on the election.We have pages of our daily newspapers full of it.
ReplyDeleteLovely apple varieties.Our local NT property,Erddig,has an annual apple festival.
I don't usually write much about politics here. I will just be glad when the overly long campaigning comes to a close. It's all been rather disgusting, without much emphasis on serious issue discussing. xo
DeleteSo lovely and good apple nice flowers from your autumn walk in New York!you are ready to vote..we also folloowed the two candidates also here in Italy on tv every evening with news and gossip!happy sunday
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gabri! I'll probably be staying up late on Tuesday night as the election returns finally get counted and reported. xo
DeleteI miss good apples, and those look lovely.
ReplyDeleteWilma, I am with you. Bad, over-traveled apples are worse than no apples.
DeleteI hoped you clicked on the Apple Lady's farm link. You might know more about the area where it is located. xo
I love apples, and eat at least one per day. France is not a good apple country; much better for pears which prefer the heat. England grows far better apples.
ReplyDeleteWhen peach season arrives here, I give up my own apple a day regimen to savor scrumptious freshly ripe peaches, but when apple (and pear) season returns, I rejoice. There are so many different type of each to sample.
DeleteSometimes I actually make a pie or crumble, but truly just like them as they are.
Such a glorious bounty of bright apples! The local National Trust properties, RHS gardens and Wildlife Trust all have their own Apple Days where they display dozens of different varieties and have many for sale. Sadly I didn't visit this year - a combination of a heavy cold and other cimmitments. I love the Russet apples best. Looking forward with interest to your reports this week. Do you recall studying history and certain years stand out as pivotal? I've a hunch that students in the future on both sides of the Atlantic will be asked to discuss the political events of 2016.
ReplyDeleteCelia, on one return trip from the UK ages ago, it turned out to be Apple Day and each passenger received an apple. That's a sweet memory!
DeleteRussets are sooo good.
Only a couple of days to go now before we see how history will continue. Stay tuned. xo
Lovely apple stalls Frances.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that the plant with red berries might just be a skimmia.
I am sure everyone in the US will just be pleased when next week is over.
Thank you, Pat, for the plant name. I love the sound of skimmia!
Deleteit's hard to predict what the reactions will be to the election results. Lots of emotions are running high, and other folks just don't seem bothered. xo
Yup, hooray for apples
ReplyDeleteand my vote for WINESAPS !
Yes...winesaps and Elizabeth...perfect together! xo
DeleteSuch a glorious selection of apple colours. Unfortunately I don't like apples very much.
ReplyDeleteThe plant with the red berries is gorgeous. I will have to try and find it in my plant book.
Hugs from The UK-x-
Sheila, in her above comment, Weaver has suggested skimmia as the name of the pretty ground cover plant with the berries. Let's check it out! xo
DeleteWe have many good apples over here and yet we prefer to import them. Very sad state of affairs, globalisation. My brother-in-law is an apple farmer for the cider industry in the UK.
ReplyDeleteDear Rachel, it's odd that if we go to grocery shops over here, the apples are all huge and have been shipped from faraway places.
DeleteI just avoid that source and have the joy of so much more choice to my taste at the farmers markets.
Cool to learn that your brother-in-law is an apple farmer. Many of the farmers market stands that feature apples, like my fave Apple Lady, also have cider and pies available at their stands. Delish! xo
I love your photo of the apples on the plate. Fall is such a bounteous season in New England. When I was there last month I enjoyed the local apples so much that I packed some in my suitcase, and still have two left!
ReplyDeleteCarol, sounds like you found the perfect souvenir of your New England trip!
DeleteOne of my brothers gave me that blue plate some years ago, and I love using it for holding apples in cooler months...and tomatoes in the summertime. xo
Wonderful pictures Frances. My week end has included comforting our elderly ginger cat as the November 5th fireworks have been enthusiastic this year, not sure why. I will be thinking of the US very much as the days unfold this week, and hoping that when I visit next it will not be with Donald in the WH. Hillary is by no means perfect, but she is the least worst option.
ReplyDeleteSiobhan
I appreciate your comment very much, Siobhan. We had fireworks in Central Park on Friday night...as part of the run up to today's NYC Marathon.
DeleteTuesday gets closer with every minute.... xo
You must be spoilt for choice with all those apples, do any of them rattle like Cox's Orange Pippins? Meanwhile our supermarket choice is getting ever more limited. I can't bear to think about the election. X
ReplyDeleteEvery now and then I have seen Cox's Orange Pippins at the Apple Lady's stand. I will try to remember to ask her about them the next time I see her.
DeleteIt's difficult to find anyone who's very enthusiastic about the Presidential election, but there will also be lots of other "down ballot" decisions to be made on Tuesday, that will also figure in the history that's about to be written. xo
Lovely autumn images, Frances. Funnily enough I also bought myself a white cyclamen last week! And I'm happy to find you on instagram - I have just this minute added myself as a follower!
ReplyDeleteAnd oh yes, I am also on tenterhooks about your election result. One can only hope that reason will prevail.
Lots of love, Karen
Hello Karen...and many thanks for visiting over at IG, too. Yes, there is just something so beautiful about white cyclamens, isn't there?
DeleteI'll be taking a nap tomorrow afternoon in order to stay up late tomorrow evening. The country is very divided and the long campaigns have not done much to "bring us together." Always hopeful that the future will be better.... xo
Beautiful apples! I just enjoyed a HoneyCrisp -- one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Vicki...can you imagine that I have yet to try one of those HoneyCrisp apples. Maybe this will be the week! xo
DeleteWhat dreadful news overnight Frances. What I dislike most is the language used by both Politicians in this campaign, language that was used in the British referendum June , of division and hate. This appears to be part of the political lexicon now. Whilst both our countries have been led by misogynists before, Trump is the worst possible choice
ReplyDeleteI fear there may be trouble ahead......
Siobhan
Come to France!
ReplyDeleteNo tart apples. No crunchy ones either. You didn't mention crunch did you?
Maybe I'll move to England...
Carol, I apologize for being so tardy in replying...I've been away, and have just seen your comment. Maybe that hoped for Paris trip will arrive in 2017.
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