lately it's all about picking and drying. i can't seem to help myself. these violets are not fragrant, but the way their colour concentrates into almost indigo just works for me. they'll be lovely in herbal infusion blends, just to look at. the odd one out in the picture is spruce flower. the air is heavy with pollen, i managed the record amounts from birch but now that spruce and oak have joined in, it's hard to breathe. rain was forecast but so far only a drizzle. i think we could all use a bit of a downpour, fauna and flora alike.
i made a small batch of pine shoot syrup, for the first time ever, and i have to say it is even more amazing than spruce shoot syrup! i'm pretty excited about it. i still don't have a candy thermometer, which is a damn shame, because pine lollipops would be a hit. as soon as i can afford a few bags of sugar, i'll be on a sweets-making bender, though. i have lokum in mind. in all kinds of exotic flavours. finnish delight.
