A good year for pumpkins and figs

The garden is looking splendid after a summer of sunshine. Our usual crops of coriander, rocket, radishes and courgettes have done well but the real stars this year have been the figs - again and the pumpkins.

Coriander has been frozen in small batches and soon the seeds can be harvested and dried. The Mary Berry recipe for courgette loaf will no doubt reappear in the next few days and this morning was spent freezing a batch of figs - coated in lemon juice to keep the colour. As for the pumpkins - a possible autumnal display at the wedding in October or plenty of pumpkin soup - or both.