They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, however that might not be the case for how I enjoy mine - generally stewed with lots of cinnamon & mixed in with my morning porridge. Delicious.
This weekend was one of my yearly highlights - Apple Day at Priorwood Gardens. Apple Day is usually celebrated across the UK on the 21st October, however due to a particularly soggy and stormy month, this years local event was rearranged for the 24th.
I care very deeply about living seasonally - eating seasonally, noticing the changing landscape and wildlife and embracing the changes in routine and practice that each season can bring. It would be hard to pick out a clear favourite as each season has it’s own beauty (and downsides!) but I do think Autumn just edges it. The glorious russet and gold colours of the changing leaves, their crispness underfoot, a chance to dig out those favourite woolly jumpers, babysoft scarves and cocoon into blankety, oversized coats. Maybe it’s the September ‘back to school’ feeling, but I find that Autumn just energises me - and I love the events that come with it.
Halloween, Bonfire Night, and of course - Apple Day.
I only stumbled across Apple Day last year, in a desperate search for scrogs (crab apples) to replenish our homemade apple jelly stores. Apple jelly is a glorious thing that we now can’t be without. Curries, gravies, casseroles, stews - any of these dishes now feel incomplete without a dollop of apple jelly just to finish it off. We unfortunately don’t have any fruit trees of our own, but we had been informed that the best apple jelly comes from scrogs & so scrogs it had to be. I went along with a friend & stumbled into a surprising new passion for heritage apples.
Priorwood Gardens are a lovely attraction in the Scottish Borders. I have many fond memories of enjoying after-school ice creams from Simply Delicious within it’s peaceful walls of ancient, crumbly stone. What I didn’t know then was that actually Priorwood is a real centre for cultivating heritage apples as well as Scotland’s only dedicated dried flower garden. It is such a tranquil space, decorated with gorgeous wicker sculptures. Melrose is a beautiful place, but it really comes into its own during this time of year. Beautiful red brick buildings with smoke gently billowing from chimneys, the atmospheric ruins of the ancient abbey (complete with The Bruce’s heart, and a bagpipe playing pig) and a buzzing high street full of fantastic independent shops. Just like a portal to another world, you can step through the stone archway into Priorwoods heritage oasis and enjoy a space that embodies seasonal, slow living. Old apple trees groaning with produce, bees gently humming, and coloured blooms still out to admire, even in October.
Every year they hold an Apple Day where you can learn about the little seen varieties, browse stalls and - most importantly, buy from the windfall stocks. As you’ll see from the photo each variety is carefully labelled with a little bit about it’s history. They always have brilliant stalls with local crafts and produce. I always load up with apple juice from Laprig Valley, based in nearby Duns. I tried their Spartan variety this morning and it was so good I had two glasses - luckily they are also stocked by Purple Plum Greengrocers on the high street. I also picked up a jar of Eildon Hills Honey, which is produced by the bees that inhabit Priorwood Garden - assisted by the beekeeper! They had a whole range from different times of the year, so I chose a jar which should have elements of blossom in the flavour. Eildon Hills Honey also run various courses about beekeeping - its something I would love to do in the future, however I don’t have the space right now.
I wish I had taken more photos to showcase such a fabulous local event, however I will admit I just got to overexcited by all the apples & all the stalls. Easily done! If anything, this gives me the excuse to revisit Priorwood in a more mindful fashion & really soak up it’s beauty and it’s atmosphere.
There were no scrogs to be had this year, but I got hold of a few different varieties of apples to try instead. We’ve already had a go this summer with a variety of cookers from the local green grocer and the jelly came out a beautiful light pink colour, whilst last year’s crab apple batch was gloriously golden. This year we will be trying the White Melrose’s (which have an unusual, very tactile waxy texture, similar to the Carlisle Codlins that I was so intrigued by last year) Old Pearmain’s, and Golden Reinettes. Fingers crossed we shall be enjoying some delicious apple jelly all through the year, until Apple Day 2021!
Look out for my next post with some wonderful apple themed book recommendations!
A solitary, rain soaked apple left on the tree