May is blooming

 On our return from France we found that the garden had decided to put on a bit of a show for us.  Plants that were still in bud when we left have burst forth, much appreciating the recent rains and warm temperatures.

Also things are taking shape in the allotment. Yesterday we bought home a good haul from our autumn planted brassicas 

We have here sprouting broccoli, pak choy, chard and two cabbages which were a bit slug damaged but I picked through carefully and we had one with dinner last night. Can’t really get much fresher.  We picked some onions which are suffering from the dry winter and spring, as they are starting to put out seed. So whilst we won’t get to store them we can at least enjoy them. The broad beans are podding up, peas heading up their sticks, strawberries putting forth berries and all the seedlings and potatoes seem to be doing fine.  We have beans, corn and squash plants to go in over the next week then we can hopefully just keep on top of the weeds and watch things grow.  And of course enjoy the fruits of our labours.

Allotment day -2 - We made fire

We got to the allotment today. We had a fire. I have tried three times to get the pictures in the correct order but failed. 

The top picture is a bucket full of rhubarb. There was so much, it certainly took some digging out. Lots of it was rotten so these live bits will be replanted and we will see what we get from them.

We managed to find enough old carpet tiles amongst the weeds to make a boundary pathway between us and the next plot, their plot is a bit wild as they have just started a family so time is short and they’ve not been there often. 

Our plot is at the back of the site so we have no one behind us, just a wide grass pathway which the council keep cut.  They also trim the hedges which is good. 

In the second picture you can see Peter starting to dig out weeds along the communal pathway that divides our plot from the adjoining one.  I think we will possibly put in some fruit bushes along there or maybe I’ll have that part for my flower patch.  

It was a good mornings work. Good to come home and get clean and smoke free.  Clothes washed. Late lunch. 

We have treated ourselves to a collapsible trolley for carting tools, chairs etc as we are trying not to use the car but realised we can’t carry everything we need.  It will come in handy for family trips to the beach etc so dual purpose.

I’m off to the Knitting and Stitching show tomorrow with Rachel. Hopefully I’ll have some goodies to share with you. 

Allotment day - 1

It was a productive first day on the allotment.  

We spent four hours clearing brambles, old carpet, rotten or overgrown fruit bushes. Broken wood pallets, plastic sheeting. You name it, it was there. We did discover a compost bin and a border fork, so that was a bonus.  

It turned out the plot wasn’t as big as we first thought. As it and the adjoining half plot were so overgrown it was difficult to see where each started and ended. However, over the last few weeks whilst we were away the other half has been worked on so we now have a clear division. 

Fortunately the soil is very light so the weeds are pulling out easily.  We decided to remove all the fruit bushes as I said, as they were overhanging the pathways and so old. We will replace with new plants in a more central location.

We have left a nice fire stacked and ready to burn on our next visit. Took home two builders bags full of plastic and metal and a wheelie bin full of stumps and stuff that will take too long to burn. Whilst we are allowed a fire it has to be during certain times and can’t be left.

We had to drag Rachel away, she would have carried on clearing. We even worked through lunchtime we were that focused. Hoping it will be good for the waistline.

We have rain overnight and tomorrow, so I guess Peter and I will go back on Wednesday to carry on clearing.  Once we have the plot cleared we will then define the edges and mark out the space.  It’s going to be fun seeing what we can grow 

November - not giving a fig!

My day started with a FaceTime call from our youngest grandson to tell me he was going to be playing rugby at school today, and also going on a ramble. It so lovely to have a chat with him. Normally they don’t stay on for long leaving me chatting to their mum. 

We had another day working in the garden. Firstly sorting around the new poly tunnel in preparation for some new borders. We cleared the courgette plants and pulled up all the rotting rhubarb leaves. There are still a few raspberries, though they don’t have great flavour now. 

After lunch we tackled the overgrown fig trees and cut down a rotting mirabelle plum tree. Lots of figs and leaves to clear and we have another bonfire in the making. Plus logs to be stacked and dried. The smell of fig wood is amazing. 

It’s all good exercise, though I’ll need ibruprofen at bedtime..

A beautiful sunset again tonight. I so love being here in France but would miss the rest of our family too much to make the move.....