tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74124414227687292152024-03-05T22:12:43.612+00:00Jill's Allotmente17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-72626562292827332562014-09-29T16:31:00.000+01:002014-09-29T16:31:01.629+01:00September Catch-up<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I haven't blogged for over 2 months as have been lucky enough to have had some solid paid work to do, but it has really taken it out of me! Visits to the plot have been ever more important in doing something other than struggling through archaeological reports and then struggling to recover! The plot isn't struggling though and it has been a lovely, productive summer</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This was at the beginning of the Great Cucumber Harvest: we've had smooth ones, knobbly ones and gherkin ones (as usual I lost all the labels with their proper names) but they've been brilliant this year. The French and runner beans have produced a great amount, and patty pan squashes and turks turban rather good too. I've never had so many tomatoes ripen so quickly at home, in fact the harvest is nearly over, but the plot greenhouse ones still have plenty to come on. Courgettes have finally provided us with a much coveted glut. And raspberries (Autumn Bliss) have belied their name by producing from May/June (in the greenhouse) to September and, by the looks of it, way beyond.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are the Ratte Potato Queen and King (top of the slope) addressing their followers, who include several ducks. Their subjects are legion as the following picture suggests</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm really pleased with Ratte, and will definitely grow them again- really prolific, really tasty. Also putting in a good effort are the chillies. A mixture of varieties grown- the picture shows the type that I used to pick out of late night kebabs. Sadly I don't eat chillies at all, but will grow them again for those that do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd also like to say well done to the sweetcorn- small but perfectly formed. The second year of growing has seen a 100% increase in crop from the previous year, when they all failed.</span></div>
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And I am happy with this year's flowers- constant sweetpeas, a massive show of verbena and borage (loved by the site bees) good dahlias, sunflowers (not enough) and new for this year: gladioli- an allotment staple.</div>
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I like to keep a few hot water plants in the greenhouse too- though I don't see them most of the time, they really brighten up the view inside the scruffy glasshouse.</div>
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And this is the view into our plot from the adjoining communal area: we cleared the gateway to restore the way through when we took on the plot. You can just see one clematis I planted in this area (Polish Spirit)- but I want, no demand, more, many more- I am a clematis addict!</div>
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e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-39188378098953160522014-07-20T15:12:00.001+01:002014-07-20T15:12:08.248+01:00Oranges and Lemons<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oranges and lemons are not something we grow on the allotment! But there are lots of lemon-yellow and bright orange flowers around at this time of year- they seem to have taken over from the purples and blues of a few weeks ago. Let's see what we have....</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ah yes- the sky before our massive storms last week- eerie!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">....but not a dissimilar colour to this osteospernum...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The orangey yellow of courgettes of courgettes is very distinctive of the squash family</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But tomato flowers are of a more lemony yellow</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this type of sulphurous yellow seems popular with hoverflies, who are, of course, good at eating aphids and pollinating </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A stamen (or pistil?) of an evening primrose flower is quite architectural when seen close-up. And of the purest yellow...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oranges are well represented at the plot too- this pompom dahlia is rather cheeky and gorgeous</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the bean flowers are pretty as well as potentially productive</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm a big fan of nasturtiums- I just love them. To look at. To eat. Self seed. What's not to like...</span></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPk_4AOPOS8z1E37tXq-OlyMfYIZd6b5IhNHWPuhxsJ75_Flt5Dq1oGnyCL4mlCcSNoarxz9ceKwmVAQeZzQTI6zjOvOi11pSHAFk7oRxOJHV7fFMENrW68Qo9a4UjH77ziOLEdjDxHqI/s1600/038+(Large).JPG" height="320" width="240" /><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Is it just me or does this carrot look like it is in the throws of giving birth to a baby carrot?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l0hMl2gGDXfgK_DNDzBo38MFY6KFSFBCtp-nms22BVnqVuYyPyCEQraoirN6RbNxvWVndAJFimrV-_iNjlIckBQ7PJG2w04fXhvLtTwLIOGTczlPWuDx6XnsvgAa3Ch_mfwYB6OuM6M/s1600/006+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqjeR7KSeaqzDtfwcuBFDBGB8mW6dHfunFiy2OoQ_xKNL0H88I8MV1cBwEhrTzPCmE16kUgEYrYxVoDRxdBlipp_zpbFFOTH9C6rm00uC_R5SJ65GD92B5LKDQL0_qdAMNOTiVN0Fonc/s1600/040+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqjeR7KSeaqzDtfwcuBFDBGB8mW6dHfunFiy2OoQ_xKNL0H88I8MV1cBwEhrTzPCmE16kUgEYrYxVoDRxdBlipp_zpbFFOTH9C6rm00uC_R5SJ65GD92B5LKDQL0_qdAMNOTiVN0Fonc/s1600/040+(Large).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a shame to see these new yellow signs popping up around the site - but we have had widespread thefts on an industrial scale. I think the signs are too small- see the hand as a scale. More on the thefts some other time....sigh....</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YqzdJXB5IFdw1qBra-iczl0lMDnJoWKtyVYdFEHDyaOQh5cJnWTnuhpCx_YKYzHJl5buD-nkviG__oe5xrtU03brxYcClmdOrweHRa9cZZpgU2ov60U6-T78ela70mgyVXtSKr7xdXc/s1600/052+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YqzdJXB5IFdw1qBra-iczl0lMDnJoWKtyVYdFEHDyaOQh5cJnWTnuhpCx_YKYzHJl5buD-nkviG__oe5xrtU03brxYcClmdOrweHRa9cZZpgU2ov60U6-T78ela70mgyVXtSKr7xdXc/s1600/052+(Large).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But on a nicer note - we have retained some of these "weeds"- ragwort- because they are feeding these lovely orange and black caterpillars....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUk0K8hcOdSxo5CCuW9mD0Bhb_4LMNu3BMZqxtVak8kAYBmbOSnXFLdZzOKSbnXQGGMUq3SrSNndpNVQSUTEhKqsh277HCKRt7Pc5ChnHFai8pP4PB4UcFJxzGgC5i-GYGYRfMpAaOSw/s1600/008+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUk0K8hcOdSxo5CCuW9mD0Bhb_4LMNu3BMZqxtVak8kAYBmbOSnXFLdZzOKSbnXQGGMUq3SrSNndpNVQSUTEhKqsh277HCKRt7Pc5ChnHFai8pP4PB4UcFJxzGgC5i-GYGYRfMpAaOSw/s1600/008+(Large).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...of the cinnabar moth.... and in a few weeks we will see the deep red and black of that lovely moth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Enjoy the oranges and lemons all around your plot or garden at this time of year!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHC3ZYc3WX6OvjUdoakYGRl3mmE5yn7Ie7LG91N1U11MazEmIErvPQ7EbnLEgh4c8QLYtrI5FE8mfKfn7pD-0cBfPQbwG9x6c0oAesN9x9nhqZ2IGUG1VgkuGonEELN9Uuz3GdTGr6vI/s1600/001+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHC3ZYc3WX6OvjUdoakYGRl3mmE5yn7Ie7LG91N1U11MazEmIErvPQ7EbnLEgh4c8QLYtrI5FE8mfKfn7pD-0cBfPQbwG9x6c0oAesN9x9nhqZ2IGUG1VgkuGonEELN9Uuz3GdTGr6vI/s1600/001+(Large).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A cucamelon winds its way to the top!</span></div>
e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-88149529872433015032014-06-20T20:02:00.000+01:002014-06-22T21:01:54.419+01:00Sunshine, Slugproofing, Slow-growth and Sweetcorn<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whoa, it's been hard work this year! Last year was our first on the plot and mostly consisted of clearance (very rewarding); introduction of new infrastructure (ditto); and experimentation (interesting). This year we can't get away with lots of gaps and small plantings, and it's been tough to sow enough, grow on, plant up, harden off, plant in the ground and then put in place effective slug and snail defences.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gateway to summer</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It should get easier as time goes on and I get timings right, and if we can largely wipe out theft of seedlings from the allotment plot I'll feel more confident about leaving young plants in the plot greenhouses- this year I didn't dare to, and keeping everything going on a couple of windowsills has been like one of those puzzles where you move blocks around to create a shape.... <em>kind</em> of fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The top of our shed at home has been the hardening-off site for young plants, providing some slug and snail protection not present at ground level. I lost approx. a third of tomato plants to slug/ snails this year- unprecedented! By sticking the bitten off tops into a pot with a plastic bag on top I saved several as they rooted nicely. The sparrows have been enjoying this impromptu "green roof" and bathing and drinking in a little tub of water I left out </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">for them. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyRkoUCbUebsZVtCbqe51h-PMDDhkLzVWMLiJTicuGavl2pNVvu3tmo3ay4ukRra2NG9Z9H8otZokrUunFhWuKnOk0e71NKo_q5e1iff-vQ1KtpN-nNfz3WqkcQIOrmRwz8DiRG2TqAc/s1600/002+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyRkoUCbUebsZVtCbqe51h-PMDDhkLzVWMLiJTicuGavl2pNVvu3tmo3ay4ukRra2NG9Z9H8otZokrUunFhWuKnOk0e71NKo_q5e1iff-vQ1KtpN-nNfz3WqkcQIOrmRwz8DiRG2TqAc/s1600/002+(Large).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The roof of the shed at home- spot the birdie!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyRkoUCbUebsZVtCbqe51h-PMDDhkLzVWMLiJTicuGavl2pNVvu3tmo3ay4ukRra2NG9Z9H8otZokrUunFhWuKnOk0e71NKo_q5e1iff-vQ1KtpN-nNfz3WqkcQIOrmRwz8DiRG2TqAc/s1600/002+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Despite the sun and good growing conditions a lot of growth has been slow for me this year- I reckon its the compost! We need to get enough good home made compost to mix with the bought peat-free, I don't think the mix of nutrients (if any) is right in the peat-free alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We <em>may</em> be luckier with sweetcorn this year than last- in the picture you can see all the slug defences in action: jagged edged plastic bottle cuffs, copper tape, and crunchy dry slug barrier around it. Hopefully the sweetcorn will have a better chance than England did in the World Cup.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKLt7jV19S5-sLLyKwqgEdAueKfhEO1Qyv9OfkvqsJOqYVbImn9CW1kBUpPk-oE9kfR20Juv9vScUfEs7S6uWmevshq9d4mXvNADpKn4jfJ2uTJNif1uWXU7HZALCdOk_Acr005v7KRs/s1600/033+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKLt7jV19S5-sLLyKwqgEdAueKfhEO1Qyv9OfkvqsJOqYVbImn9CW1kBUpPk-oE9kfR20Juv9vScUfEs7S6uWmevshq9d4mXvNADpKn4jfJ2uTJNif1uWXU7HZALCdOk_Acr005v7KRs/s1600/033+(Large).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtFX7g_wF19SbDRVopDHJEzhfIY1uS4DGPULUzPwjWo9Sb-AqNZLr4dcdr0TMakl6RsmDNvxbVIk8JPWZCQgrZNZHoXP3gcjkcyzkVvgCM6R6F1Fy8pEHtkhNLwTgiuXNKrBul9Rrgmg/s1600/034+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtFX7g_wF19SbDRVopDHJEzhfIY1uS4DGPULUzPwjWo9Sb-AqNZLr4dcdr0TMakl6RsmDNvxbVIk8JPWZCQgrZNZHoXP3gcjkcyzkVvgCM6R6F1Fy8pEHtkhNLwTgiuXNKrBul9Rrgmg/s1600/034+(Large).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Talking of which: when the disappointing games get too much the allotment is a good place to creep off to- and it is certainly looking bright this time of year.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOpCNBbkleAn3pajdBXqF8bs60XoZfp_A4VzqzXkipXA2_m7NEZ6kPPXEaRbAxxHqviWQXnIS7nIKdABpLz_6kRp0LNuBteXllRMjNlMREa1ybu9m88iaY0w9T5LqunrUGJ416BWO0mQ/s1600/038+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOpCNBbkleAn3pajdBXqF8bs60XoZfp_A4VzqzXkipXA2_m7NEZ6kPPXEaRbAxxHqviWQXnIS7nIKdABpLz_6kRp0LNuBteXllRMjNlMREa1ybu9m88iaY0w9T5LqunrUGJ416BWO0mQ/s1600/038+(Large).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> The plot is a good place to think happy thoughts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFim_p_iFFg2qH1Cm792fTUjR9U_9QDNAM3CqT8MEyZPN4EkOOzzoenreyDV7b1mi08pk4SP2whyknEUzJUuRBXwfpOFR59cVY1-2W5Y3S_09q0ICCbA9l4f-0tankWmfV2LY_36ma4wk/s1600/011+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFim_p_iFFg2qH1Cm792fTUjR9U_9QDNAM3CqT8MEyZPN4EkOOzzoenreyDV7b1mi08pk4SP2whyknEUzJUuRBXwfpOFR59cVY1-2W5Y3S_09q0ICCbA9l4f-0tankWmfV2LY_36ma4wk/s1600/011+(Large).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> A rose for Christine ......<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nRtcfNVc8gAvCLHGiAvlrg3_3dMljhyphenhyphenK2M_pgrKZ4vQXSSixHSJ0IkhGjgI-yrmRrZ8uNAYBKMSTg5LHHK_80AkZlpUHVjyM4rg6qvbEM18scTrih6RKYgKFbiQG-4BqkJ-fR0znR6g/s1600/068+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nRtcfNVc8gAvCLHGiAvlrg3_3dMljhyphenhyphenK2M_pgrKZ4vQXSSixHSJ0IkhGjgI-yrmRrZ8uNAYBKMSTg5LHHK_80AkZlpUHVjyM4rg6qvbEM18scTrih6RKYgKFbiQG-4BqkJ-fR0znR6g/s1600/068+(Large).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFim_p_iFFg2qH1Cm792fTUjR9U_9QDNAM3CqT8MEyZPN4EkOOzzoenreyDV7b1mi08pk4SP2whyknEUzJUuRBXwfpOFR59cVY1-2W5Y3S_09q0ICCbA9l4f-0tankWmfV2LY_36ma4wk/s1600/011+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.....and a rose for Julie</span></div>
<br />e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-42966666631304540742014-05-14T16:10:00.001+01:002014-05-14T16:10:51.194+01:00Springtime Catch-up!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This time of the year all plants on the allotment, in the garden and in nature whizz along. I just love the vibrant zingy greens of tree leaf, and new grass and perennials; the new salad leaves; and the sharp splashes of bright pinks, purples, and yellows from budding roses, alliums, and the later tulips. Not to mention my favourite clematises (is that the correct plural?) - that's the ones that haven't been pinched off the plot that is...another story!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">New lettuce and turnips zooming along in the greenhouse</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjunaiLlE6uPSvqPt55dPJ5xeBwVK4asOJFcViKZrVPXG3ShPPFJwu3eR4GOIb4R-gUmM-4Vla7nTgUdEC1eCCN5hL17KYqBoLM53Se5Gc4228L2JKimD7lxSNHGOBo8J9I3EoQvZqVo/s1600/083+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjunaiLlE6uPSvqPt55dPJ5xeBwVK4asOJFcViKZrVPXG3ShPPFJwu3eR4GOIb4R-gUmM-4Vla7nTgUdEC1eCCN5hL17KYqBoLM53Se5Gc4228L2JKimD7lxSNHGOBo8J9I3EoQvZqVo/s1600/083+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">I love alliums!</span></div>
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The bursting buds are just as good as the open flowers</div>
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And the first roses are unfurling</div>
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Plenty of fruit to come too: redcurrants</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The veggies are also coming on. Last year's chard and spinach is still producing well and we've had our first really good picking of mustardy salad leaves.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDO2_FsxNPnB6oH8mLHZ9Be8F3m-rPZRAWzpQ23svprIs_fYyMg1NMbrVpbX8qR74a_SN0t6FXnYTXhxgN3uV0j1Ops0r3iIKSccQhQpjXCvTHNDASUqiafv6r5Xlvuknq-cL82k-9aO8/s1600/076+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDO2_FsxNPnB6oH8mLHZ9Be8F3m-rPZRAWzpQ23svprIs_fYyMg1NMbrVpbX8qR74a_SN0t6FXnYTXhxgN3uV0j1Ops0r3iIKSccQhQpjXCvTHNDASUqiafv6r5Xlvuknq-cL82k-9aO8/s1600/076+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mustardy salad leaves, with carrots, radishes and more parsley to come: growing in the old water tank, away from slug and snail</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The sweet peas and peas got a trifle nibbled (aka eaten to the ground) by slugs and snails. I have now trialled wool pellets alongside the existing plastic bottle cuffs with jagged tops and copper bands to keep the voracious molluscs off. The wool seems to be proving that final bit of protection in a slug and snail-full year so far. Both types of peas are re-sprouting now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've also been busy sowing. I stagger this over the season, little and often, cos with ME you get overwhelmingly knackered and ill from doing too much. I'm feeling more under par than usual at the moment so the pattern is to totter off my bed of knackeredness, fill up a pot or two with soil (all kept handy by the back door) bung in a few seeds, put 'em on the windowsill and hey presto! ....Even more seedlings to anticipate potting up- with help of </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">course!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXdsXKVafFA3bWaNXlzMRLVeRAt6uviKZSvjJyXeATdFL4eeNSgomSO4q8sl0J2KrcN7bnMl6h5tIRqZnS2seIKUMFqM_RsnpLF34LdtxZ-zFBUY32BGcSf-zr3SulrBNLky_XOVUhUI/s1600/067+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXdsXKVafFA3bWaNXlzMRLVeRAt6uviKZSvjJyXeATdFL4eeNSgomSO4q8sl0J2KrcN7bnMl6h5tIRqZnS2seIKUMFqM_RsnpLF34LdtxZ-zFBUY32BGcSf-zr3SulrBNLky_XOVUhUI/s1600/067+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BJdnY88_eVfHO8dW2TVVOKP9WFWvWD0oJRw3QMzjvJPz69zP_o96PE1q0obWnTRlfZMDBAyWnLVGtBtw7N4bylqivJ3q84AgO2EYgwPvr0gz0kNofkEdeNKUovZUeZ5lIRv1YpvntuE/s1600/070+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BJdnY88_eVfHO8dW2TVVOKP9WFWvWD0oJRw3QMzjvJPz69zP_o96PE1q0obWnTRlfZMDBAyWnLVGtBtw7N4bylqivJ3q84AgO2EYgwPvr0gz0kNofkEdeNKUovZUeZ5lIRv1YpvntuE/s1600/070+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXovYu8fIOC7M04TN11CnKZxXMX_9n9lOos1SanI8BgAWKCuM-ynIMgbE2J25tRblM9xPvzDDNSfX9Qk9XpoZV3icmDzwVaCnKD4mlZr37nK439-ISdy7VQlI7vCiH-ohy_61hVOUgXH4/s1600/023+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXovYu8fIOC7M04TN11CnKZxXMX_9n9lOos1SanI8BgAWKCuM-ynIMgbE2J25tRblM9xPvzDDNSfX9Qk9XpoZV3icmDzwVaCnKD4mlZr37nK439-ISdy7VQlI7vCiH-ohy_61hVOUgXH4/s1600/023+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh and by the way we've had more new life on the plot: four of the dearest robin fledglings from a neat nest in the wiggly hazel- they kept that very quiet til the babies were up and flying!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy Spring!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoolwV-8gbis-nwi2VmW3tl-Y-bsPSSTWbilLXsjDHFk3zVu2dJQ7UjIkot2XGXkZFijwvIhqkFCdzvsov1OQv_xb58hcIK2X-T6rZatoZtvNNhP9FWwmFdikr2738I9WztAMo6LYYYw/s1600/032+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoolwV-8gbis-nwi2VmW3tl-Y-bsPSSTWbilLXsjDHFk3zVu2dJQ7UjIkot2XGXkZFijwvIhqkFCdzvsov1OQv_xb58hcIK2X-T6rZatoZtvNNhP9FWwmFdikr2738I9WztAMo6LYYYw/s1600/032+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-69773840235516715262014-04-08T20:54:00.000+01:002014-04-08T20:54:02.797+01:00Budding Promise<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things are a-stir on the plot, things are a-stir everywhere! On the plot today I ignored the fact that there seem to be loads more slugs than last year already, and just concentrated on the shoots and buds that are appearing, and some lovely flowers out in the afternoon sun- nothing fancy just pretty spring blossoms!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Can you tell what this is yet?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAyIdn0oVcNSQ9Kr8hZ4xl_vonrW2nr4HDer5ix5duA3Esh9ejktjF27SUR6m3bCD1ZizjiFC0854F3lDCGoksMnsuF-WBwBcLfeiGFL92cKplJd2e7YwezlOBWMRv-RPxu4v967atuk/s1600/108+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAyIdn0oVcNSQ9Kr8hZ4xl_vonrW2nr4HDer5ix5duA3Esh9ejktjF27SUR6m3bCD1ZizjiFC0854F3lDCGoksMnsuF-WBwBcLfeiGFL92cKplJd2e7YwezlOBWMRv-RPxu4v967atuk/s1600/108+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's the first gooseberry!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6orEVmLcvw0r_zHqwx4DnjkdRNWjQzNxJb-BoII63vHPxybWJ7PVTkKFiX2iPDEwGkkioe6H8uUX2kCTwrIHAxL4z9rJNeq6UGBxg6I2gttzAassaQ_k22qZkC_Hg2VO7igo5aPttBc/s1600/006+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLhHemywQ0tQBGCIhuZngQPHBLpA-E5m-4nl43wAQv0-N3u2qGLPAdrv4csXlQod9lF68SIGME7Gif6HUlTkjuFp_b62DdOWM-sUZID8PRDgDR83UFfAI-mZRppVN84aX-e7MRmPpDqA/s1600/101+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLhHemywQ0tQBGCIhuZngQPHBLpA-E5m-4nl43wAQv0-N3u2qGLPAdrv4csXlQod9lF68SIGME7Gif6HUlTkjuFp_b62DdOWM-sUZID8PRDgDR83UFfAI-mZRppVN84aX-e7MRmPpDqA/s1600/101+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wonder what colour this tulip will be? I love the green bud</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAyIdn0oVcNSQ9Kr8hZ4xl_vonrW2nr4HDer5ix5duA3Esh9ejktjF27SUR6m3bCD1ZizjiFC0854F3lDCGoksMnsuF-WBwBcLfeiGFL92cKplJd2e7YwezlOBWMRv-RPxu4v967atuk/s1600/108+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHDxl6dyMqrao2vARARWWVfWPiIN1YJkI3OlkuiPkCMg0Se0RfLJY7EB3cFhbQ-_r7njU8S2NHiF-DLtiSWFjMExTdgNn2jgHPYuGgLMvdj0VwY_jrmZ02c1-zTvtZurSFALIh6s5d9Q/s1600/127+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHDxl6dyMqrao2vARARWWVfWPiIN1YJkI3OlkuiPkCMg0Se0RfLJY7EB3cFhbQ-_r7njU8S2NHiF-DLtiSWFjMExTdgNn2jgHPYuGgLMvdj0VwY_jrmZ02c1-zTvtZurSFALIh6s5d9Q/s1600/127+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a shoot of one of 5 clematis I've added to the plot- like my Dad before me I love them! Mind you so do the aphids by the look of it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vEZ9JnvQ0FTXnJPil7NT0uS4xtUtV8i_GraQwUX5gnmndNkHCejPdPQALwwljz-Zr1JY1ZJ4gQlrgGzJxF4oTGL0pTQ7ZmhAJaSV_BvKDi_c9B1vSt_UhPTM8zjAxk3R9WeQaZilBzQ/s1600/132+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vEZ9JnvQ0FTXnJPil7NT0uS4xtUtV8i_GraQwUX5gnmndNkHCejPdPQALwwljz-Zr1JY1ZJ4gQlrgGzJxF4oTGL0pTQ7ZmhAJaSV_BvKDi_c9B1vSt_UhPTM8zjAxk3R9WeQaZilBzQ/s1600/132+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this is the cherry, but it could be the pear. The apple blossom is pink</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtP0yIEBnzHyggax4B92178VIFLDx3dDrC-7uHFS6TmnXrdMdDDLNmBAQN_aKUiISYjaCmIKb1yzYd_KsX1UFA_Jvxo5JKNsy_WrbDyD58_cmCZpJsHizWqkl-_tZ3FY0wynyS408yZU/s1600/142+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtP0yIEBnzHyggax4B92178VIFLDx3dDrC-7uHFS6TmnXrdMdDDLNmBAQN_aKUiISYjaCmIKb1yzYd_KsX1UFA_Jvxo5JKNsy_WrbDyD58_cmCZpJsHizWqkl-_tZ3FY0wynyS408yZU/s1600/142+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Spanish bluebell. Would be nice to have the native ones. Something for the future</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eWDQXmfeGg17u61CVZpUOIfbC5yLvOEWt7wguHhVAks2wtLhN50iiHVqS3CApEQUFQiHoH4N46m3qCuvud33ah5cBRB4fgFePYHVGD1M4Mq8pIDxy4y7u22OXZERZfBxpyA765P2vmo/s1600/148+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eWDQXmfeGg17u61CVZpUOIfbC5yLvOEWt7wguHhVAks2wtLhN50iiHVqS3CApEQUFQiHoH4N46m3qCuvud33ah5cBRB4fgFePYHVGD1M4Mq8pIDxy4y7u22OXZERZfBxpyA765P2vmo/s1600/148+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wiggly hazel is such a bonus on the plot. I've planted a blue-ish clematis to go through it during summer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEE7GVUzOgiDTGqeh2kYEnDHpgJiOM7qAhrYu3LhF_N2hGpOoP2g6vIFqVUoSg3dPF2t28tOgf5QPTzLtKepaC1ZV6QisJrIUdbY6_fK8nurSzJfXVT9v6kWqVCsMfmMmEU57agBJlR4/s1600/159+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEE7GVUzOgiDTGqeh2kYEnDHpgJiOM7qAhrYu3LhF_N2hGpOoP2g6vIFqVUoSg3dPF2t28tOgf5QPTzLtKepaC1ZV6QisJrIUdbY6_fK8nurSzJfXVT9v6kWqVCsMfmMmEU57agBJlR4/s1600/159+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grape Hyacinths are nothing special, but they look lovely close to</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6orEVmLcvw0r_zHqwx4DnjkdRNWjQzNxJb-BoII63vHPxybWJ7PVTkKFiX2iPDEwGkkioe6H8uUX2kCTwrIHAxL4z9rJNeq6UGBxg6I2gttzAassaQ_k22qZkC_Hg2VO7igo5aPttBc/s1600/006+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6orEVmLcvw0r_zHqwx4DnjkdRNWjQzNxJb-BoII63vHPxybWJ7PVTkKFiX2iPDEwGkkioe6H8uUX2kCTwrIHAxL4z9rJNeq6UGBxg6I2gttzAassaQ_k22qZkC_Hg2VO7igo5aPttBc/s1600/006+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just showing that there are veggies on the allotment too -honest!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYcBREkoSZ0nJ_imtmd7B8l_EQ4kPWMt9WoPawnXFhZpNAC_NOOFe9Sklt9zmg2sLIHEGkBSDhnc6aWGToldXzaEFQvZ15mLOmjjNAsmFE2oJt-IbIhyITqDJv4i-hzh41sBYbW6es4s/s1600/168+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYcBREkoSZ0nJ_imtmd7B8l_EQ4kPWMt9WoPawnXFhZpNAC_NOOFe9Sklt9zmg2sLIHEGkBSDhnc6aWGToldXzaEFQvZ15mLOmjjNAsmFE2oJt-IbIhyITqDJv4i-hzh41sBYbW6es4s/s1600/168+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite tulip- I think it's called Strawberries and Cream. If it isn't it should be<br />
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e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-85733123855791741722014-03-12T21:09:00.000+00:002014-03-12T21:09:56.181+00:00Weather great for gardening- lots to do!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At last most of the UK seems to have had reasonable weather for the time of year. Down in the South East we haven't had a decent frost which may mean diseases haven't been killed off, but we'll just have to see. The sun and warmth really makes me want to get out and grow! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WfSCCc6CtnnE4IVh7MUcz397XOY567kXoUjzhTQPQWBmsCK56fo31jY8YuVuWZFFXcfv91vEv-bRHG8-b59ocTNFD6X1kBitFv72eCBkEttOBs7jFlrmHHW7J9pLtNVRdmbMpp_IUPA/s1600/007+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WfSCCc6CtnnE4IVh7MUcz397XOY567kXoUjzhTQPQWBmsCK56fo31jY8YuVuWZFFXcfv91vEv-bRHG8-b59ocTNFD6X1kBitFv72eCBkEttOBs7jFlrmHHW7J9pLtNVRdmbMpp_IUPA/s1600/007+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still being a newcomer to the allotment (this is our second season) we have a lot to learn, and I already feel a bit behind in sowing seeds. So far I have:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Set potatoes to chit (oops, left most of them in the box they came in for too long: hence long weedy sprouts! Knocked some off and hope more come!)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEyRwiOa_Pu8CJ52Kv2FjCEIn29vhh0RjZP7FwjuI8Ht6V-kGPwWtGTJCy_MZriyRTHY9T8glnDgIFn6khyVPy5sE-q8vc1S2eS5zj1sWELeNI5oy0HPlwQetjiC2rHWyAMBcFtNwQ3k/s1600/040+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEyRwiOa_Pu8CJ52Kv2FjCEIn29vhh0RjZP7FwjuI8Ht6V-kGPwWtGTJCy_MZriyRTHY9T8glnDgIFn6khyVPy5sE-q8vc1S2eS5zj1sWELeNI5oy0HPlwQetjiC2rHWyAMBcFtNwQ3k/s1600/040+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Far too long and pale!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMt8eQgEdhqHeCQ0gWl4N2lRTGlkes1GafHtd2joZSg0ZEAcF6KYYCV8mcwLsrSfQCPCktYJK2QEL3CIhklpVqPw3UXZg1UIZWmUzNXd9RrONTzaSDWdah_UWr33UDVxcMdv25C2uqQw/s1600/potatoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMt8eQgEdhqHeCQ0gWl4N2lRTGlkes1GafHtd2joZSg0ZEAcF6KYYCV8mcwLsrSfQCPCktYJK2QEL3CIhklpVqPw3UXZg1UIZWmUzNXd9RrONTzaSDWdah_UWr33UDVxcMdv25C2uqQw/s1600/potatoes.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will do better with these!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sowed broad beans (patchy germination, maybe the rough compost I sowed them in hasn't helped)</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3E8_8rfb9SHS4G9CE_vHAowbsN2DNejlgDVLLK2QubX9fCvDvhnlFsqVlgEUOmwPM_FfNxU2t64JAtoMPmAhIzkwYVuWx4ZZ8FeUF1cyFdEYmZTtjWWItgEJZCv1iPMm3Y0WufsyeW8/s1600/004+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3E8_8rfb9SHS4G9CE_vHAowbsN2DNejlgDVLLK2QubX9fCvDvhnlFsqVlgEUOmwPM_FfNxU2t64JAtoMPmAhIzkwYVuWx4ZZ8FeUF1cyFdEYmZTtjWWItgEJZCv1iPMm3Y0WufsyeW8/s1600/004+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sowed sweet peas (I need to sow a second lot, they were great last year, and I am greedy for more!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Planted out some banana shallots, some garlic I'd started in the greenhouse, and some random spare leek seedlings from last year<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UtHIfvGLRjiB40fP1BeDRU8nXBFCSKSgZ9p3LJTjCQdDnuBfwdl71s41M34Ny5zmmu0TY9_1m8y9NrZ5vqjNw_hOrSP6fVxoGYJctsTBDCAKrr93N6ceGA5VZeC0tPwFJKS9kBs3dyI/s1600/026+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice strong garlic</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoX6PgHy5wN7w1u_1l65vp9UKvjJnJTXaP-e1ufTcECEPFqrDQHVNX7LyD9jtwmQywY78CbxT80aMWDEA5odQJ3zfp6SvWfcOOWKMlB93SvzrXAE7wiVntliwz3v0EkdNUY7sa5u7rF0/s1600/021+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoX6PgHy5wN7w1u_1l65vp9UKvjJnJTXaP-e1ufTcECEPFqrDQHVNX7LyD9jtwmQywY78CbxT80aMWDEA5odQJ3zfp6SvWfcOOWKMlB93SvzrXAE7wiVntliwz3v0EkdNUY7sa5u7rF0/s1600/021+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More garlic, and leeks</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And we have:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Prepared the potato and broad bean beds</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cut back the raspberries and top dressed them</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pruned the apple, pear and cherries</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pruned the gooseberries (the giant one we have inherited, and I also made cordons of some spares- Monty Don reckons it cuts out pest and disease problems) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sorted out the greenhouses</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Painted fencing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Reset the brick edges of paths and beds</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwRHocnFIzu7Qdsc6t8-WPKtGL1p-jH9rCKkc81E6cZLULMGWKgbmZ-R4ecQXBZpHCansnWvtfCI4xrAtnfaKlthgoYL6VBezIwaX0BzIRXSmigOFssjC8PKfaA2F_YDW_BBaM7GDxfg/s1600/030+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwRHocnFIzu7Qdsc6t8-WPKtGL1p-jH9rCKkc81E6cZLULMGWKgbmZ-R4ecQXBZpHCansnWvtfCI4xrAtnfaKlthgoYL6VBezIwaX0BzIRXSmigOFssjC8PKfaA2F_YDW_BBaM7GDxfg/s1600/030+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fiddled and diddled about with other stuff!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Oh and we have enjoyed:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Purple Sprouting Brocolli: how delicious it is compared to the shops!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxjKJ07viarmV7pJL-tXHrnKSSAU_G_73P_HlwIPGJ4xjpMF_rCfcxGIHAbyUifou5J0BMRPcCdfpKYg8bOpkYiI9Dm4prB3TV9Wiy-2mH6oaguiUIu0UKqn47S-rdybU6sjta8Z39Tk/s1600/003+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxjKJ07viarmV7pJL-tXHrnKSSAU_G_73P_HlwIPGJ4xjpMF_rCfcxGIHAbyUifou5J0BMRPcCdfpKYg8bOpkYiI9Dm4prB3TV9Wiy-2mH6oaguiUIu0UKqn47S-rdybU6sjta8Z39Tk/s1600/003+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cavolo Nero: now this has gone to flower we are just cutting off the whole of the top and eating it flowers and all- yum yum</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpagd1bJ8nySYPXLXHkl3jRlFxUjsWHCievPlV-QpCC98hITqaMGNXa5aOsRnDwaFOh6abVECdtFP4nQvuK4W-Wba4jK5-lR2uN0DNrwBJfL3Tm1pA6ulLK3k5C51qWN8CpcgpfAmAhI/s1600/008+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpagd1bJ8nySYPXLXHkl3jRlFxUjsWHCievPlV-QpCC98hITqaMGNXa5aOsRnDwaFOh6abVECdtFP4nQvuK4W-Wba4jK5-lR2uN0DNrwBJfL3Tm1pA6ulLK3k5C51qWN8CpcgpfAmAhI/s1600/008+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGP9XvKBcQZld4dpTl0gLx07OK9TyHVeQEXU9l-pIOeGxBzfiSLWtoBolsnx-lSjfiQmbVvJcxRXgqKcD7-9saTWtxPfxSnGTvXYlwvZYbJdhEl3kPXrmokFJMe7n1eFSY1UOH0yA_GNQ/s1600/096+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGP9XvKBcQZld4dpTl0gLx07OK9TyHVeQEXU9l-pIOeGxBzfiSLWtoBolsnx-lSjfiQmbVvJcxRXgqKcD7-9saTWtxPfxSnGTvXYlwvZYbJdhEl3kPXrmokFJMe7n1eFSY1UOH0yA_GNQ/s1600/096+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">I love this time of year!</span></div>
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e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-20738899372640833612014-02-17T15:27:00.005+00:002014-02-17T15:27:50.668+00:00Weather terrible- gardening continues<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What awful weather we've had lately in the UK. Well saying that doesn't do it justice. I have nothing but sympathy for everyone affected- and contrary to those who may think that down South it's only "posh" houses by the Thames affected I can assure you it isn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Last week I saw hundreds of extremely ordinary terraced houses in the London Borough of Croydon with filthy water lapping against them (it must have been in the houses as well), sunken cars, water gushing from manholes, a couple of forlorn fire engines piping water around, desolate minor roads, and elsewhere traffic hold-ups where major road underpasses were deliberately flooded as temporary reservoirs. And it has been going on for weeks. All credit to the emergency services and others which has stopped what looks like a disaster zone from actually being one. Elsewhere of course there has been all sorts of damage, including the many hundreds of acres of crops destroyed by the constant flooding, and the massive problems for farmers.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Misbourne in Bucks is normally a small stream. In Amersham it has flooded cellars and back gardens. The picture was taken yeasterday after the water had receded quite a bit.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Any concerns we might have about the sogginess of allotments seem irrelevant. However it has made me think about issues of food security. I think it is pretty much accepted now that the current situation is likely to be repeated- the relatively rapid global climate change is at last generally considered to be caused by humans- and we will see more dramatic weather events. I hope we are intelligent enough to be able to globally co-operate in addressing issues and planning for the future, and it starts by getting our own house in order, and supporting one another. But on the micro-scale of our allotments I have two thoughts- one (self-centerdly!) I'm glad we have an allotment if in the short term veg and fruit prices are likely to rise; and two- are we going to have to adapt our styles of gardening?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here in East London we are lucky to be protected from our River Lea by a special flood relief channel- without it the allotment would undoubtedly be flooded, and the house not long after. So we continue to work on the plot- with some good sunshine at the weekend and not at all sodden soil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Oh, and in the back garden, the tender nasturtiums thrive... climate change?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've moved the strawberries back to the edges of a front bed, to be used soon for potatoes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are getting to grips with the back section, which hasn't had too much attention in the first year of our plot<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the back garden the cyclamen look almost exotic</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the primroses in my £1 from the charity shop cage look cheerful in the sun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But perhaps nicest of all are the snowdrops- here they are en-masse at the Chilterns Crematorium, Amersham- which has lovely wooded, natural grounds</td></tr>
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e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-22808424755337919872014-02-12T16:05:00.000+00:002014-02-12T16:05:00.552+00:00Nearly Wordless Wednesday- Micro Flora and Micro Fauna<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlKg6M3jrRYm7aoxZYC4iZM9N_CjCqmvoSfGr_Y2FT3xX0A-HLxan7el9SvQvdM9e-EJV46m6gWVTshRtYIaj5aeAoOt38gI8FGN44hffKZIMIUPClfu3U6N35xnsct42IJihcJDqZx8/s1600/033+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlKg6M3jrRYm7aoxZYC4iZM9N_CjCqmvoSfGr_Y2FT3xX0A-HLxan7el9SvQvdM9e-EJV46m6gWVTshRtYIaj5aeAoOt38gI8FGN44hffKZIMIUPClfu3U6N35xnsct42IJihcJDqZx8/s1600/033+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New animals spotted at the allotment</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dino wants a piece of the action</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMf2HkFJmUGH6Akk13XpIZsZWfkudEfZlL_eezxjbXlO3rhLSq-EEBfdoONnRZDILkdWUVGwf4EJQLtvlnRw2Ybi8t497rv2dx4bGCMbFRAOTukW74-SLM57eLpIG_EcwJQLryLECJa64/s1600/042+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMf2HkFJmUGH6Akk13XpIZsZWfkudEfZlL_eezxjbXlO3rhLSq-EEBfdoONnRZDILkdWUVGwf4EJQLtvlnRw2Ybi8t497rv2dx4bGCMbFRAOTukW74-SLM57eLpIG_EcwJQLryLECJa64/s1600/042+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dino gets carried away, as do the Cow Twins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTtssICqwDcIk1ootlBXT6CMi-o57ysfUYRkRKnv3iR3DDuy6Q9kf2vmtavjKVMauBqWEt-00W3i6BY4bpOWv0g9y9duDGJnwOJzIiO0XGoEBMfpBFZ36o9sScZm9yGfEKXnN2RMuVF4/s1600/024+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTtssICqwDcIk1ootlBXT6CMi-o57ysfUYRkRKnv3iR3DDuy6Q9kf2vmtavjKVMauBqWEt-00W3i6BY4bpOWv0g9y9duDGJnwOJzIiO0XGoEBMfpBFZ36o9sScZm9yGfEKXnN2RMuVF4/s1600/024+(Medium).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the miniature attractions of the winter allotment are revealed on a rare sunny day: Fennel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss/ fodder</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feverfew</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose</td></tr>
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<br />e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-39942569915034638482014-02-02T20:30:00.002+00:002014-02-19T18:50:08.342+00:00Beautiful Sun for Once<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a beautiful day on the allotment</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- at least 10 other plotholders were out and we completed our raspberry/ gooseberry swap. The gooseberry bush which we were very kindly offered is enormous, and very vigorous. Our fellow plotholders worked hard but unfortunately broke a spade and a fork moving it! Our tools, luckily enough, held up better, and now we have a bit of a biggun (and potentially very fruitful) in our midst! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We'd inherited one gooseberry on the plot, which bore nothing last year, so we laid into it and made 5 smaller plants to see what happens. I turned 4 into cordons to grow up our scaffolding fence (also inherited!) and gave one away. We separated 2 bushes from the monster plant, and gave one to our next-door neighbour, then replanted the biggun. We couldn't face trying to break it up anymore, that'll be a job for another day. Apparently the biggun has been very prolific, so fingers crossed for the crop. When we have some wood ash we'll top dress, as apparently they love potash. The plotholders we gave raspberries to were pleased, so hopefully all will work out.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my cordoned gooseberries</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We also did some digging over as the ground wasn't too sodden (our plot borders a stream, but the local flood relief channel protects us, and all the neighbouring area). And a bit of weeding and chatting with our neighbours, who gave us a big handful of a peppery salad leaf which has been taking over their greenhouse (could be mizuna?). This was lovely with pasta and walnut bits for a simple (and very late!) lunch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A good day!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojU-pHBezsTsRcSGPO2HeChc5cVJ6QQa3cIgyDas_ik2GWZiDzIHbfdB-6BbrAzOj3pBYcVO_1P1_We-Ozye0-5qs4ZzHahnFB5tgK23wXZNwCNgmVR_ycMnW1jgzBXaS4RQHznJW08g/s1600/001+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojU-pHBezsTsRcSGPO2HeChc5cVJ6QQa3cIgyDas_ik2GWZiDzIHbfdB-6BbrAzOj3pBYcVO_1P1_We-Ozye0-5qs4ZzHahnFB5tgK23wXZNwCNgmVR_ycMnW1jgzBXaS4RQHznJW08g/s1600/001+(Small).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a lovely early iris</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catkins like a reaching hand<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_3vFJ5vPr9gBi9AaMNhf_m1ahIDylU_kWlLdiiLt2GKL6M-EfBuuk15UJx2OBttz4hTpM7I0buXcJWvKwzibl8XMnxTTnggNH7K9NeYm5TPKUg8sQJIVf6SFDM-sCsPsvlVAVHdGbYo/s1600/020+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_3vFJ5vPr9gBi9AaMNhf_m1ahIDylU_kWlLdiiLt2GKL6M-EfBuuk15UJx2OBttz4hTpM7I0buXcJWvKwzibl8XMnxTTnggNH7K9NeYm5TPKUg8sQJIVf6SFDM-sCsPsvlVAVHdGbYo/s1600/020+(Small).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wiggly hazel looks like a little head</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gcQ3pC853uOrG7eUQDMBzMWrHjeZc7357jRrm7j3hUoUyXLkQEgUHXFI-443psUQDRCt6c3y2ASegdevbeQSaHAyIjxl1B2h7rmPU0Izc9SH8rtD5ZDLRU1Ei2xZNEVlA-e-HV2bNxw/s1600/009+%2528Small%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gcQ3pC853uOrG7eUQDMBzMWrHjeZc7357jRrm7j3hUoUyXLkQEgUHXFI-443psUQDRCt6c3y2ASegdevbeQSaHAyIjxl1B2h7rmPU0Izc9SH8rtD5ZDLRU1Ei2xZNEVlA-e-HV2bNxw/s1600/009+%2528Small%2529.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whilst this basically looks like a bare space, a bucket and the back of someone else's polytunnel it actually represents a day's work! The gap is where L dug out a massive boring municipal type shrub (leaving the buddleia for the insects!)- and on the left in the background is the monster gooseberry. Things are shaping up in this area as we straighten up the raspberries and weed thoroughly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhAx86aC2LjVXZwZW45AeZzxT707xRF-z3CUJwvqCzAPZtJjvSfGy6hr3KTtmt_iTEZ1YNS-NpCSCEJ1J6ObnpQqbuQsqZiPsL0i0FDvqVFgFbQNJ5QgJgyq7h57qidqLUhyK7hj4yY0/s1600/049+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhAx86aC2LjVXZwZW45AeZzxT707xRF-z3CUJwvqCzAPZtJjvSfGy6hr3KTtmt_iTEZ1YNS-NpCSCEJ1J6ObnpQqbuQsqZiPsL0i0FDvqVFgFbQNJ5QgJgyq7h57qidqLUhyK7hj4yY0/s1600/049+(Small).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more bright primroses: more bright days please! </td></tr>
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e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-37134266124153344052014-01-19T15:22:00.001+00:002014-01-19T15:22:43.955+00:00Back to Blog<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just before Christmas and just after Christmas I was catching up with things after finishing my studies, and getting overcome with ME, but since that little hurdle seems to have been hopped over it's time to blog again! I have been reading other allotment/ garden blogs but not commenting, and we've still been active at the plot and this weekend caught up work in the back garden as well as the allotment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">At the plot today we cleared out the greenhouses and did a bit of raspberry pruning. In the mild conditions the autumn raspberries had plenty of leaf buds and even a few flower buds, but we cut most back to base, and some back to a third of the length. We did this last year and seemed to get a good long fruiting season. We agreed to swap some of our raspberry plants for another plot's gooseberries. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnAz6xZ886X8bgADowEOq17EQeU0EjAHWm0WkIvp496yaopiyVWX5zhHtlYeSZLtr9w5eon8QxN2jk7HtcY9RxLI5OT289NKv-wind6lIdhUrvDL51mJ8EOTPBPv3smLeitU3FRQ_5Ow/s1600/016+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnAz6xZ886X8bgADowEOq17EQeU0EjAHWm0WkIvp496yaopiyVWX5zhHtlYeSZLtr9w5eon8QxN2jk7HtcY9RxLI5OT289NKv-wind6lIdhUrvDL51mJ8EOTPBPv3smLeitU3FRQ_5Ow/s1600/016+(Small).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginnings of this years onion crop</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We cropped some cavalo nero, and some lettuce leaves from the greenhouse. Can't wait for the purple sprouting broccoli to develop heads. Talking to other plot holders it is clear we aren't cropping anything like the quantities of things they are, but since this is our second year it'll still be a bit experimental, and it's quite nice getting a little bit of different things.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyrzFkZRO9eE5fZoMEYNN4Qc2oWtSKD-RMpJFT7FNOFxEm0HYjoyBl9kRuRx4JlKWF72TWGM9R_TXVKh6vIkY8O5DOeOspkE9fYu0GDxGZAT3Ani_RE6Lh9B2Hx3M8eA-_pnmLL667HE/s1600/021+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyrzFkZRO9eE5fZoMEYNN4Qc2oWtSKD-RMpJFT7FNOFxEm0HYjoyBl9kRuRx4JlKWF72TWGM9R_TXVKh6vIkY8O5DOeOspkE9fYu0GDxGZAT3Ani_RE6Lh9B2Hx3M8eA-_pnmLL667HE/s1600/021+(Small).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunt the Purple Sprouting Broccoli Head</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In an exciting new development for this part of Walthamstow a new café has just opened at the end of our road, selling lovely salads, fresh bread, toasted sourbread sarnies etc. Within hours it was packed to the tinted windows with "hipsters" who are flocking to the area, having been forced out of their traditionally trendy habitats of Stoke Newington and Shoreditch by spiralling house prices. They must have been attracted by the smell of fresh ethically sourced coffee and the plentiful use of the word "organic". Like many others I am very pleased to the see the café and the clientele alike, and hope to save my pennies up so I can occasionally go in- it's very welcoming and rather lovely. I am wondering if they would be into swapping some fresh herbs or sweet peas for the table for a free tea and cake now and again?</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQm0PT9garyUQlWhszTh2tWgfTFpuh0xGlTa1OYKFjqcGI9_rEUuTf14l0sZwMN29Y0eykZUi9GJjFU6v1DsCP6sY81aG3zJ5I17QfNgRfMqSKgcmfambHwcYpOOnW4_qm40BVefBKo88/s1600/024+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQm0PT9garyUQlWhszTh2tWgfTFpuh0xGlTa1OYKFjqcGI9_rEUuTf14l0sZwMN29Y0eykZUi9GJjFU6v1DsCP6sY81aG3zJ5I17QfNgRfMqSKgcmfambHwcYpOOnW4_qm40BVefBKo88/s1600/024+(Small).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The mildness of winter around here is bringing out both the primroses and the hipsters</span><br />
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<br />e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-16183817666242921532013-11-01T23:19:00.000+00:002013-11-01T23:19:22.832+00:00Plot anniversary<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'ve had the plot for exactly a year and a week now and it's been great! In my last post I wrote about some of the reasons I enjoyed having the allotment. Here are some of the things I would have missed out on in the last year had we not had the plot:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 Posting up "before and after" pictures! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Appropriately here are two views of the plot from the front, on the first day we got the plot last year, and then three taken the same day a year later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1-rKIvRZC62Go59Qjg0UFWw6nShzmlx06qhp30WyP0HbGeUD7UJEnzkLaF8y-XFjycRrA6Y9Kks-TJkGqOxj2cde4Z-aPIMlG1LmAFvFE3TK8f7DfMNl7f49fY6AXbnWyUIidXSQWyE/s1600/third.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1-rKIvRZC62Go59Qjg0UFWw6nShzmlx06qhp30WyP0HbGeUD7UJEnzkLaF8y-XFjycRrA6Y9Kks-TJkGqOxj2cde4Z-aPIMlG1LmAFvFE3TK8f7DfMNl7f49fY6AXbnWyUIidXSQWyE/s1600/third.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07GnZXjBFrbg6hHV_FoP34lXLtzHEiEw81C8sTitD0bN0-vcD-m7MFOAElAbIy5GLlMN8R_2wLuRR3dVwtH7lCDK5gMPKniAeA2JANBXZuuIW0efnYB52cxrelsIQp2ZlmUR-mVL3Xkw/s1600/056+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07GnZXjBFrbg6hHV_FoP34lXLtzHEiEw81C8sTitD0bN0-vcD-m7MFOAElAbIy5GLlMN8R_2wLuRR3dVwtH7lCDK5gMPKniAeA2JANBXZuuIW0efnYB52cxrelsIQp2ZlmUR-mVL3Xkw/s1600/056+(Small).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzWeVLAMeKKSLuAtDAmVK-hoEguANq1dkTk9bgZAYH7XGTsO9Gi0aFNi7xQZM8yHUZCSOYb60HSxlk9rvSqwV6h37mpvoj72qgx6aZHS-NJgtCnkirqHQQMdboLuU3aVDuLHdQcjHV5k/s1600/027+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzWeVLAMeKKSLuAtDAmVK-hoEguANq1dkTk9bgZAYH7XGTsO9Gi0aFNi7xQZM8yHUZCSOYb60HSxlk9rvSqwV6h37mpvoj72qgx6aZHS-NJgtCnkirqHQQMdboLuU3aVDuLHdQcjHV5k/s1600/027+(Small).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfja-I3-3MPpJo66edKHow_c9o4gSluKq7vGOdeiFibrYK5HgqcmyEotDz7G5AYOHKhWSavMpfPfNk1b7ARiFJI5XoEGWCcL5n7kRS_3vtUKgK76UGXqVOpaiOnZEAQfOMgR4YYVw9zE/s1600/059+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfja-I3-3MPpJo66edKHow_c9o4gSluKq7vGOdeiFibrYK5HgqcmyEotDz7G5AYOHKhWSavMpfPfNk1b7ARiFJI5XoEGWCcL5n7kRS_3vtUKgK76UGXqVOpaiOnZEAQfOMgR4YYVw9zE/s1600/059+(Small).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">2 Experiencing light and crisp days during last winter, which got me through a much dreaded time of year for me. I loved being on the plot when very few other people were, getting warm and enjoying the quiet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">3 Proudly cropping our first veg- overwintered and undersized onions, which we thought at the time were well worth the effort! And then enjoying the other firsts- like the Charlotte potatoes, my first successful sweetpeas, and the attractive, but not very productive tomatillo</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIWK7N9JQFdMf8i5-ZcYXRsl8dwUt2-rVjLK7HIa6tl7zkWmkSqv5Kz5psJeWCC-d4DPSy_FalHkR-wbmj_LIgQHGiosN_G2wFPn_YunLhl2kCfuimIgT0qGF5k6eBNbX882Z9MT-jkk/s1600/003+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIWK7N9JQFdMf8i5-ZcYXRsl8dwUt2-rVjLK7HIa6tl7zkWmkSqv5Kz5psJeWCC-d4DPSy_FalHkR-wbmj_LIgQHGiosN_G2wFPn_YunLhl2kCfuimIgT0qGF5k6eBNbX882Z9MT-jkk/s1600/003+(Small).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1L1b0Atz6tliNnTVg352YrW9AENDdz5BADP-SQGUmbZvRwq9FSUcuqRHfuLmBg5O93lbNRRkMV7y5uDFplVl8TES0UYe3TKJ009zqZF7l8FnLIaU6gXruxKC01ILzzmfMs0pqhS9VcIk/s1600/001+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1L1b0Atz6tliNnTVg352YrW9AENDdz5BADP-SQGUmbZvRwq9FSUcuqRHfuLmBg5O93lbNRRkMV7y5uDFplVl8TES0UYe3TKJ009zqZF7l8FnLIaU6gXruxKC01ILzzmfMs0pqhS9VcIk/s1600/001+(Small).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0YvUpVQq2khWo7GKTx2yCSnjNZRkFmqeNBa9WBdVevdwACUFeWDHUFCZOWAUAZngAF4Tnl3hQboZmMUCJqbt1Gxki_-UXWalMU-iurvUtF9W3viHE2LcV0Rd6LtCr572yFR8gQ10CAY/s1600/051+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0YvUpVQq2khWo7GKTx2yCSnjNZRkFmqeNBa9WBdVevdwACUFeWDHUFCZOWAUAZngAF4Tnl3hQboZmMUCJqbt1Gxki_-UXWalMU-iurvUtF9W3viHE2LcV0Rd6LtCr572yFR8gQ10CAY/s1600/051+(Small).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVwkVCkd2c0DP4_3yZ7-ckYeowgs3d8f3rx-x_yYcHpA7_E9WPsE9qgWciyhG-hdy020qXvdXxHC3zVzDyn6c4Cw-_Ft-PKL62qBPOcwZD4hsUB7XT_mbRoAHR8jZrnMAf6JAqmE5BxU/s1600/037+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVwkVCkd2c0DP4_3yZ7-ckYeowgs3d8f3rx-x_yYcHpA7_E9WPsE9qgWciyhG-hdy020qXvdXxHC3zVzDyn6c4Cw-_Ft-PKL62qBPOcwZD4hsUB7XT_mbRoAHR8jZrnMAf6JAqmE5BxU/s1600/037+(Small).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">4 Meeting new allotmenteers- it's been lovely to chat, even if all the chat of late has been about the constant thefts.*</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">5 ..... And reading great allotment and gardening blogs- and exchanging comments with the authors- very friendly and helpful folk</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">6 Watching and trying to encourage the wildlife: we've seen frogs and toads; loads of birds (and hear parakeets all the time); mice; lovely butterflies and moths; and the star for us- the grass snake caught in our fruit nets but released to slither off to one of the most polluted waterways in London, our delightful Dagenham Brook. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1VX1riTcz24mjY_EgCFeCzFpN3JrToCETt1Bq3zMbS_aiNxgDSJEpMU80HAauIpOextr7D0MZg-s3nBm6-E1Hf15OlCb86x1oc_j081qGEkKZg1MwdAyMgC8jlltffpSImwwu5MjMKA/s1600/046+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1VX1riTcz24mjY_EgCFeCzFpN3JrToCETt1Bq3zMbS_aiNxgDSJEpMU80HAauIpOextr7D0MZg-s3nBm6-E1Hf15OlCb86x1oc_j081qGEkKZg1MwdAyMgC8jlltffpSImwwu5MjMKA/s1600/046+(Small).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a> A strange cocoon found last week amongst the fennel<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">7 Planning- I love to plan! When we started we had a good framework on the plot, underneath the massive carpet of strangulating bindweed and bramble, and that's really helped. I'm happy with the permanent features (for now) that we have put in like the herb bed, which has thrived.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">8 Having friends take an interest and visit- more please! We had a couple of lovely barbeques, and we've also benefited from advice and seeds. I hope people enjoy reading my posts- I know I don't get a huge amount of traffic but I am pleased that some lovely old friends read posts even if they don't comment!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6PVFNGv6JwKZrN0TyoUNyqStCpkbH6JZWu3hcF7Dym0yMVe9zmgdC9nl3OJjgNxz1SD0KtiUZUoF5FeEoY55BRgCDf35CyuXY82724eu0Yj6hlul5h7l3cLJjOWQzsB6YwCtnn6NDMg/s1600/005+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6PVFNGv6JwKZrN0TyoUNyqStCpkbH6JZWu3hcF7Dym0yMVe9zmgdC9nl3OJjgNxz1SD0KtiUZUoF5FeEoY55BRgCDf35CyuXY82724eu0Yj6hlul5h7l3cLJjOWQzsB6YwCtnn6NDMg/s1600/005+(Small).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a> Thanks for coming along Minnie</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">9 Having meals made almost entirely from allotment produce. Not only is the fruit and veg satisfying, fresh tasting and perhaps with more vitamins and minerals than supermarket ones, I am surprised to reflect that the plot has been remarkably cost effective. There hasn't been much outlay as we have all the tools needed, have used cheap and home-made compost, and employed the traditional allotmenteers' mantra of make-do and mend.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwp2K-PRLqsXrdu0a9f7BkxQFz-KXP2kP8VNxCQ1unTVyQnUOJBzJBDU5f-PSxwJm3A9xZB31e2mFjRWIDXg24jYi__NMBSrks7Kqzl_Fhbec9OkUD-wJXhuhvYrjVS3zr_bVrA27l54/s1600/005+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwp2K-PRLqsXrdu0a9f7BkxQFz-KXP2kP8VNxCQ1unTVyQnUOJBzJBDU5f-PSxwJm3A9xZB31e2mFjRWIDXg24jYi__NMBSrks7Kqzl_Fhbec9OkUD-wJXhuhvYrjVS3zr_bVrA27l54/s1600/005+(Small).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> Potatoes, French Beans, Sungold and Gardeners' Delight tomatoes, lettuce, rocket, fennel. Eggs and mayonnaise not from the plot.<br />
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Potatoes, Chard stems and fennel braised in white sauce with veggie sausage done chorizo style, chard and spinach, Bloody Butcher tomato</div>
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Autumn Bliss raspberries- we've had these almost every day from June until now</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">10 Spending hours bottling cherries, freezing masses of soft fruit, using runner and French beans in every meal, and now preserving pears a-plenty. Some will hopefully find its way to people as presents- as have big bunches of flowers.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52_jDDk7fdRNilacCWkaYCGa1fpiN0dKNYCihNsW38NbGlenUsEQ5j27ZTp0I927TztsmPAQPWjXPZsf_rHNN7nXEDp7SmptK6vVTJzZ-2BLWJUjF1sTpWRhEXmJiPABg89GgLZE11PQ/s1600/021+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52_jDDk7fdRNilacCWkaYCGa1fpiN0dKNYCihNsW38NbGlenUsEQ5j27ZTp0I927TztsmPAQPWjXPZsf_rHNN7nXEDp7SmptK6vVTJzZ-2BLWJUjF1sTpWRhEXmJiPABg89GgLZE11PQ/s1600/021+(Small).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">11 Enjoying the tiny things- like Borage seeds shaped like little grazing creatures</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0xTCPzFrlIkNhCL0eZ-F8W-zssGPvVHvypg7ZSlikEkUqwtUJduIhWA2Kt1uU_lpJMjggGeDiLsUYVT-dxvNWk9mbKiDVwaOzlmDlOLR8DyuIymO6X6tfv6Y94AFInLHJLX3yncpIHw/s1600/034+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0xTCPzFrlIkNhCL0eZ-F8W-zssGPvVHvypg7ZSlikEkUqwtUJduIhWA2Kt1uU_lpJMjggGeDiLsUYVT-dxvNWk9mbKiDVwaOzlmDlOLR8DyuIymO6X6tfv6Y94AFInLHJLX3yncpIHw/s1600/034+(Small).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the details of flowers and insects</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 Being able to plant clematis and other things we wouldn't like to chance in our rented</span> garden</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e3a71bKLUZwDLQh55oVDjLWhH3SVPJwbu4lsJOyV5_Ff6CrepSV-KxPOcpJ-WWmmyGkVSL04rSuFpeYez99JqaDBGwZau6oDCWn-hERTWabvvbPagEFXyJs0hfTgn4JM13GCFDqsgUE/s1600/037+(Small).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e3a71bKLUZwDLQh55oVDjLWhH3SVPJwbu4lsJOyV5_Ff6CrepSV-KxPOcpJ-WWmmyGkVSL04rSuFpeYez99JqaDBGwZau6oDCWn-hERTWabvvbPagEFXyJs0hfTgn4JM13GCFDqsgUE/s1600/037+(Small).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> The delightful Polish Spirit<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As I hope you've seen we've really enjoyed our first year and hope it may continue!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">* E and H: you may be shocked to hear that whilst we have only suffered from one theft it is the shocking loss of Motorbike Boy- we like to think he is riding in pastures new. Dino has not yet recovered.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<br />e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-73250951688547992922013-10-17T17:09:00.001+01:002013-10-17T17:09:34.390+01:00How I use my allotment<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can never think of snappy blog titles- this one is what it says it is! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">My allotment is to grow fruit, veg, and flowers- of course! But it is also, for me, a touch of green, a link with the countryside, a chance to interact with wildlife and experience the changing of the year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here in Walthamstow, East London, the great news recently was the successful prosecution of the first two people for spitting on the street. (£80 fine, and no they didn't bother turning up in court). I do love living in London and I'll defend my "manor" to outsiders, but really the grey misery of it (in parts!) does get to me occasionally- and this is where the allotment comes in handy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Even if the outside impinges with the continued weekly mass thefts from virtually every plot on site, still the green-ness is there, the flowers, the colour, the birds and the still-ness. I find myself become rather strange if I don't experience this urban wild for a few days. I have to be able to experience living things other than humans! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've just listened to Radio 4's Ramblings in which a listener Cathy Dreyer took Toyah Wilcox on a short walk from her home that she plans to do 365 times- you can see her blog here: <a href="http://walkinginacircle.wordpress.com/">http://walkinginacircle.wordpress.com/</a> I really like this idea of walking the same route every day in all weathers and conditions- the idea of observing in depth the subtle or the larger changes every day. I get that from the allotment too- and I think back gardens can do the same- whether your world is large, or small, it's the detail that makes life more interesting, and can be calming and stimulating in turn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, here are some photos taken in the last week of things I am enjoying seeing and eating in the allotment and garden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-50481494306838415462013-09-30T16:41:00.000+01:002013-09-30T16:42:23.711+01:00Tomato Review<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our tomatoes have been cultivated in three places with very varied results: in the allotment greenhouse in pots; the allotment outside; and in large tubs in our back garden. Most successful results were from our back garden- a sheltered south-facing spot; least successful were the outside tomatoes in the allotment- succumbing to a fast spreading blight early on. I'm reserving judgement on the greenhouse toms as they are still ripening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Varieties: this year I grew Sungold (cherry variety, orange colour), Gardener's Delight (cherry variety, red colour) Moneymaker (large red, old favourite), Roma (medium sized plum) and Bloody Butcher (bright red- a "heritage" variety). The last two are new to me. Here I must apologise to those I gave plants to this year- I completely muddled up my labelling! How I managed this I don't know- I thought I'd been exceptionally organised, but everything has come out all wrong! Ho hum, I know the difference between the fruits by sight anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sungold: these were most prolific as always and produce the best flavour I believe for salads, and just popping in the mouth whilst gardening. They also make up the bulk of the toms I oven cook with garlic, rosemary, sage, bay and any other herbs knocking around. They haven't split on me very much this year. A firm favourite with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gardener's Delight: due to my mislabelling I didn't have many of these but I have found them to be tasty and a nice red colour and size, I'll always grow a few plants of these.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moneymaker: due to my mislabelling I have loads of these in greenhouse- huge great fruits, mostly unripe. Flavour has been ok, but much improved by grilling or other cooking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roma: sorry Roma, I won't be growing you again. Cotton woolly insides, dry and taste</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">less. No improvement on cooking. Bleh. They look nice though. My search for a tasty plum tomato continues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bloody Butcher: I love you Bloody Butcher! Dark red, juicy, rich tasting. Yum. Due to my mislabelling I have hardly any of these, but someone who I gave plants to has! Lucky them. I'll be growing them again, hopefully from seeds I collect myself this year. Unlike the expensive Sungolds, they are not an F1 variety so should come true to the parent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Problems: On Sue Garrett's excellent allotment and garden blog </span><a href="http://glallotments.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://glallotments.blogspot.co.uk</span>/</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> she describes problems with blossom-end rot this year. I felt confident that I hadn't got this- but about a month or so ago I found that I had, and for the very first time! It's been suggested that poor calcium uptake can cause this problem, so I made up a rough-and-ready solution of crushed eggs shells and watered it in. I didn't have any more problems, but I think this was luck- I don't know that the plants would be able pick up the calcium from egg shells this way and at such a late stage- I think it was more to do with the watering regime- I actually eased off watering as the plants seemed damp enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blight: I have my usual slight blight in the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">back garden towards the end of the season, and by judicious cutting back and getting the toms off I have fought it successfully. The plot was another matter- within two days the plants were overwhelmed and the fruits totally spoiled. The greenhouse has been healthy- so far. Blight is so disgusting, handling the plants when ripping them out makes me feel queasy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At home the dishes of green toms will continue to ripen off for months. I monitor on a daily basis for any showing signs of blight and chuck'em, and we always manage to keep a few going until Christmas Day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Having the allotment and having this blog has helped- it's been really great to escape to the plot, even with manuscript in hand, to get a proper break. And thinking that friends are reading my posts has been nice, as well as chatting with new bloggerfriends! Sorry the blog posts have been a bit lax while I've been finishing the academic work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Well I will update properly, but since our broadband seems to have given up the ghost that might not be immediately! What I will say is that sometimes big things from little things can grow (that is a half thought-out analogy about my MA but also refers to <strong>big sunflower</strong> above and <strong>little sunflower</strong> below)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">That analogy is rubbish on a number of levels, not least because little sunflower didn't grow into big flower- poor little sunflower just never got potted on- it's the same variety though! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And talking of small things- why have all my squashes failed?! This is the one still trying to grow: it would be spaghetti squash which usually taste of mush anyway. Looks nice though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well I'll sign off before broadband gives up again. And next time I will tell you of my new love for a Bloody Butcher but indifference, bordering on disdain, for a Soggy Plum.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-45136813906883924842013-08-22T12:50:00.000+01:002013-08-22T12:50:54.866+01:00Potatoes have eyes.... they must be alive<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am enjoying the fact that our allotment potatoes are not shaped like those in the shops....and some are quite big. And slightly peculiar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it alive?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's that you say? You want to play?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come on then, DO something</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mummy, it's not doing anything</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Come on : let's play over there!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any time you want to "chip" in with a suggestion....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3SwJoD1oj0CFfFgc05vLrtKSqcCwLWucVzIB7AyEZNQLv78we4YRzkSZWHKAiMQIBPA-hLfZ7SvrlrbiXflUBIlWABYplCAFYK8fWERMDyuQjPCW9x84SWGCDOJpj6JHZYkisIaKCpo/s1600/101+(Medium).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3SwJoD1oj0CFfFgc05vLrtKSqcCwLWucVzIB7AyEZNQLv78we4YRzkSZWHKAiMQIBPA-hLfZ7SvrlrbiXflUBIlWABYplCAFYK8fWERMDyuQjPCW9x84SWGCDOJpj6JHZYkisIaKCpo/s1600/101+(Medium).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Arran Pilot isn't flying anywhere</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weirdo</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh really. Enough.</span></div>
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e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-84272487556941856092013-08-15T12:28:00.000+01:002013-08-15T12:28:23.386+01:00Olympic Park one year on<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please indulge me as I relive a few Olympic/Paralympic horticultural memories, and introduce a glimpse of the park as it was in 2012, and as it is in 2013. This time a year ago (plus a couple of weeks) I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the Olympic Stadium and grounds, a few days before the opening ceremony. I'd applied to be a Games Maker, and was accepted, but with great disappointment I had to withdraw due to the old ME, which I thought I'd be over when I'd first applied for the post a few years back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was still generously invited to the final practice for the opening ceremony. It was fantastic: one of the best nights of my life- and the first thing that overwhelmed me was the stunning -and I have to say unexpected- brilliance of the plantings immediately around the stadium and throughout the grounds. A-MA-ZING! As I entered the park there were audible intakes of breath as the other guests saw the flowers for the first time, and then got on their mobiles to tell family and friends (me too!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first view of the stadium</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ga7s-r883tf7EtH6Lx1C10uYbiwk9Pm91cYkk8WgAT_V3l3Cfu1R-LnM5GDiKcsPG-JZWb4T6gXQ5FlA3V3rz73QYlNwQb-y7ab-j_UoRwCf-1LqOz2JPytXHAB0dtBCh0DMOs6pT7s/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ga7s-r883tf7EtH6Lx1C10uYbiwk9Pm91cYkk8WgAT_V3l3Cfu1R-LnM5GDiKcsPG-JZWb4T6gXQ5FlA3V3rz73QYlNwQb-y7ab-j_UoRwCf-1LqOz2JPytXHAB0dtBCh0DMOs6pT7s/s1600/049.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This purple-mix photo was taken on a return visit- we were extremely fortunate in getting most of the Olympic and Paralympic tickets we applied for, so we got repeated views of the gardens too, which really held up over time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The plantings were consistently good, a well maintained loosely structured "wild" effect. Prairie planting sat alongside areas themed by world regions. And they were really drawing in wildlife to this part of London which I well remember used to be a repository for piles of tyres, fridges and old cars- all leaching toxic waste into the River Lea.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBvWSEHN392qHkB4uyJVLvvHzUfNwkInOrpsqBuaRH5DMmgwknmG2QRQuNC10cEvdT-6MNgrT-hHOlBhLC2qsFLpI2w0BOSzIoyTh8gPaDf-nsOZpTl87Jdyj324R0WOnh7qbrSdp0Ck/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBvWSEHN392qHkB4uyJVLvvHzUfNwkInOrpsqBuaRH5DMmgwknmG2QRQuNC10cEvdT-6MNgrT-hHOlBhLC2qsFLpI2w0BOSzIoyTh8gPaDf-nsOZpTl87Jdyj324R0WOnh7qbrSdp0Ck/s1600/027.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This plant (I later found out) is a Korean Angelica. Bad picture, but it was absolutely plastered with bees. When I returned late in the season for a Paralympic event I took a couple of seeds (honestly there were tons, and they were just falling on the ground!), but now I can't find them!</span></div>
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Lots of umbilleferous (or however you spell cow parsley- like flowers) really attracted the insects including this damsefly.</div>
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The flowers complemented the broad sweep of the paths</div>
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Cornflowers mixed with grasses providing a relaxing area</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I've returned to the former Olympic Park twice this year, including the first day a small section of it was opened to the public (it's just a short bus ride or 45 min walk away).</span></div>
I was looking forward to seeing how the beautiful grounds have held up. Well the story at the moment is that there is absolutely nothing to see of the plants which so brightened the visits to the Park last year. Nothing. Some really dull wasteland weeds (not even Rosebay Willowherb!) Nothing else.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_36q04PXPjhX8_nkPsJni0EBCEVLkDe4gRfuLEyJ5HWfeGImvcPpBH2XOxAn15OpoSDjQ-XNzDGOfVipkqOTVgkjOuKer4n0mPDzo04N_I6KLPWdHIuynJ-DnNruR-_VYdSBJwvLQviU/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_36q04PXPjhX8_nkPsJni0EBCEVLkDe4gRfuLEyJ5HWfeGImvcPpBH2XOxAn15OpoSDjQ-XNzDGOfVipkqOTVgkjOuKer4n0mPDzo04N_I6KLPWdHIuynJ-DnNruR-_VYdSBJwvLQviU/s1600/113.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story is the same all over the Park I've been told. The great news is the Lea and surrounding reedbeds look good still, and there is plenty of birdsong in that area and wee fish in the tributary streams. There have been a number of trees planted, and some new beds around a lovely well-designed beech-clad cafe (approximately on the site of the basketball stadium). The flowerbeds around this are ok, slightly unimaginative, and a bit sparse at the moment, but with potential! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I look forward to the Park's development over the next few years. The hard landscaping has held up well, and there is plenty of potential for wildlife and remodelled flowerbeds. I'll certainly visit many times again, especially if the cake at the new cafe is as good as the first time we went! I do wonder though if the gardens will ever reach the same high standard as 2012's golden Para/Olympic year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-22331375636233262502013-08-12T18:58:00.002+01:002013-08-12T18:58:31.519+01:00Plottety is Theft<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sorry, worst pun ever. Still you have to laugh. Or do you- when our allotment site is subject to almost daily raids now? As soon as crops are ready for the pot, they are being stolen. The best plots are targeted- hence not ours- yet. But I expect it will be, unless something is done. Which it isn't. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This doesn't seem like the actions of vulnerable folk in desperate straits needing a free meal. Along with new potatoes they take mint to go with them, and a nice bunch of parsley. Some tasty garlic (the whole crop of course) goes well with that, and those just perfect courgettes will set the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">whole thing off. I would estimate that over half the plots have had a considerable amount taken so far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About two weeks ago many plot holders joined in an online chat to decide what to do, and it was thought early morning patrols in groups would be the best bet. Unfortunately this hasn't been given any official support and the idea has died a death. I think we should also report every incident to the police, who will have to log it, and eventually perhaps the sheer scale of reports will lead to something being done. No one wants to head the "Anti Social Behaviour" league. A nearby Walthamstow road already has a top place in the country-wide league of most burgled streets. Perhaps the two are linked. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whatever happens, <i>something</i> must be done. People are talking of leaving, and certainly in our position we simply cannot afford the money spent on seeds and potting compost etc to see the whole lot be taken just as it is ready. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No pictures with this. But any advice welcome.</span></div>
e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-57026540232488520102013-08-07T17:14:00.000+01:002013-08-07T17:14:49.112+01:00News Round-up: what we are doing and Snakes, Moths, and things to eat.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot has been happening! Since I've finally finished the last two essays of my MA I feel I can blog again! I still have a dissertation to go by September but I'm getting there.....and the plot is a nice place to escape to!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have had a slightly fraught allotment site AGM: new rule changes demand a seasonal cycle of activities on each plot including clearing all the ground by March, manuring shortly after, planting all done by June etc..... I didn't vote for it as it's not how we want to do things, and can't clear away all the perennials and structural elements. The rule was passed by a single vote and left a residue of grumbling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is the inter-site competition for best kept plots, which we won't win because a) we didn't enter b) I can't seem to grow neat rows of great looking veg and c) I'm just not that into the idea. I'm aware of some allotment sites where there are prizes for most bee-friendly and most wildlife-friendly plot: sounds more broad-minded! Talking of wildlife: SNAKES ALIVE- was I shocked to see a poor 3-foot viper lookalike tangled in our netting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not our snake: Picture courtesy of Friends of Lancing Ring wildlife site http://www.glaucus.org.uk/LancRin2.htm</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recognised it as a grass snake (dull greyish colour, not all zig-zaggy) but still had a primal wish not to get bitten as it hissed and writhed. After a few attempts with secateurs I called L who legged it to the site in 4 minutes flat with a pair of sharp scissors, and then following a titan struggle with the mega-beast we got it fully free, and it shot off looking unharmed, but leaving us stinky with the snake-wee it emits to deter predators. </span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were chuffed to know there was a snake on the plot, but immediately removed all netting! Adders have a painful bite, which may cause severe health problems so be careful with those, but apparently you should be fairly safe with a grass snake. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two days later I saw a dead hedgehog on the next plot- a very sad looking little thing. Was it the snake or the copious amounts of (banned) creosote which have just been splashed around the communal areas? It equally could have been the hot weather, or slug pellets and rat poisons... who knows. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Better news is that just around the same time we found two gorgeous garden tiger moths- the population of these has plummeted in the last few years, but reports suggest this has been a good year, as it seems to have been for other moths and butterflies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the moths were tucked under Crocosmia Lucifer they were quite well disguised in the dappled shade. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As well as revelling in wild beasties we have enjoyed a huge crop of delicious cherries, together with raspberries, strawberries, and red and black currants. Veg-wise we have had a good few french beans (Blue Lake and Cobra) whilst the mange-tout and peas have more or less finished. The perpetual spinach tastes pleasantly spinachy. We have also been cropping Cavalo Nero leaves- this is supposed to be grown and eaten through the winter months but our plot neighbours kindly gave us some rather well grown plants which are thriving right now. The potatoes - bog standard (probably) Arran Pilots- have been wonderfully new-potatoey. To go with the mint, which is, you've guessed it, pleasingly minty!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week was my birthday, thank you for the allotmenty cards and presents I received! And thank you allotment for the lovely bunch of flowers and the raspberries you provided for my cake!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-26604864037619047862013-07-10T19:48:00.000+01:002013-07-10T19:48:42.202+01:00Sexist Gardening Gloves!!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I have lost my camera download lead (again) I can't post the latest pictures of the fruitful plot (strawberries and cherries are providing our first glut- answering the site naysayers who said birds would get the lot!). So instead I thought I'd tell you that I have just emailed Waitrose about this particular thing that has annoyed me greatly- sexist gardening gloves! The evidence: Ditzy Grip cotton grip garden glove.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ditzy Grip? Ditzy?? As in "Silly and Scatterbrained"? (Oxford Dictionaries). With flowers? In a smaller size? Aimed at women? I think so. Yes us silly and scatterbrained women with our silly and scatterbrained grips. As if most of the media ignoring the fact that Virginia Wade OBE </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">won the womens' singles title at Wimbledon in 1977 wasn't enough.......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia's grip on a racquet was neither silly nor scatterbrained I'm quite sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there's "Lady Gardener" : stylish and soft- just like me! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ah for the man : I like the barbed wire imagery, but surely they should be called "Raging Hunk" or "Testosterone Overload" or something. These only in a large size obviously. Us ladies can't tackle brambles or splintery wood- it's our weak ditzy grip you see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I'm on a roll, why not mention the bee-saving-ultimate-insect-destroyer- found on the same supermarket trip? Lure the insects with insect friendly flowers, then blitz the evil buggers with as much weedkiller as you can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally I got to the checkout, but had one finally thing to get annoyed about. Would you really pay £1.69 for a bunch of flowers (as per label: "Flowers") that don't actually have any flowers, or any prospect that the sorry twig of green leaves would ever produce said flowers? If you would I would suggest you are being a bit "Ditzy". I just hope somebody has produced some gardening gloves just for you.</span></div>
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e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-38194796557157888962013-06-27T11:38:00.001+01:002013-06-27T18:55:49.224+01:00Summer Plotting<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dearie me, it's been a while! MA, ME, camera breakdown... other things conspire against me- it's all go at the allotment, but blogging has taken a battering. Hurrah for some summer-ish weather! By the way I'm hoping I've just made a change that should make commenting easier- please do comment!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots going on to report at the plot: produce to collect each time we go (small quantities but good). Excitement over our first onions, garlic, peas, mangetout, and lettuce; and the pleasure of strawberries, and raspberries that have been happily growing away in the greenhouse. Yum yum! And lots still being planted out: brassicas, squashes, even french and runner beans are still going in....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A highlight for me: out first sweetpea! I know it's probably nothing to old hands, but I've never been able to grow sweetpeas successfully, so I'm so pleased to be able to stick my nose in a bloom, savour the smell and then sneeze about twenty times through hayfever- luxurious torture! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other flowers are coming along too: roses, peonies, alliums finishing up, verbenas coming on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's a blackbird nest in the rose arch, with a parent bird sitting tight, but no tweeting chicks....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The herb garden is filling out</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using cat litter as a slug barrier didn't work! The latest trick is making sharp pointy crowns from plastic bottles, with a ring of copper tape around. It affords some protection! However the slugs climb up any sticks stuck in for support or pigeon protection. I've put rings of copper tape around the support sticks, but it may well have to be netting to keep off the pigeons, although I like Alys Fowler's dense plantings of french marigolds and other things around brassicas to confuse pigeons. Although you then have to keep slugs off the marigolds! </span>e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-30529556923177767792013-06-05T15:38:00.000+01:002013-06-05T15:39:28.909+01:00The Joy of Alliums<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everywhere, around the plot, alliums are star-bursting purple and white. Attracting bees and bugs and even yielding some food for humans. I'm going to introduce even more to the plot next year!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-92095770405336832742013-05-22T21:39:00.002+01:002013-05-22T21:39:34.976+01:00Sort of Wordless Wednesday 22nd May 2013<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aquilegias at sunset. The first sign of the sun all day.</td></tr>
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<br />e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-31782014767489627432013-05-21T12:18:00.000+01:002013-05-21T12:18:15.383+01:00Simple Fruit Cages<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just in the nick of time L made two lovely fruit cages for red and black currants. Two redcurrants had come from pots in our present garden, uprooted from our previous garden, and they look extremely happy to be planted out; there are several blackcurrants with a similar background, although some are accidental cuttings, after I'd used them as clematis props; and one, well-laden currant was already on the plot, and we've yet to find out what it is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So- these are simple structures, but sturdy and quite subtle in looks, achieved with skill and a soupç</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on of fruity language. The wood is all reclaimed from the plot. The net was a 10p-a-pack bargain, bought the same weekend we became allotmenteers. Given the cost I bought up the whole shelf load of about 20 packs. We haven't even got through one pack yet.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcXxKegpkXZsyrZADiTmFvBWGrN56kkyRGc9rVADkK1y67yJ2a3FZp2XtUQ1kxz_K9lp3cUu6O2zOfY8jxhgIFvPYyb0-BocDK6g2ZWOgS8WuxaVYndzIDPu9hS8Xeve3_LBcDqHuNqw/s1600/042+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcXxKegpkXZsyrZADiTmFvBWGrN56kkyRGc9rVADkK1y67yJ2a3FZp2XtUQ1kxz_K9lp3cUu6O2zOfY8jxhgIFvPYyb0-BocDK6g2ZWOgS8WuxaVYndzIDPu9hS8Xeve3_LBcDqHuNqw/s1600/042+(Large).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step one: the uprights go in</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step two: across bits are measured and screwed/ hammered in. The cost of the netting is gloated over by me</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step three: o</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">nce the (cheap) netting is wrapped around and pinned in place the cage is complete. In the middle picture you can see the gap left for the door, which is made of net on a bit of bamboo, which can be rolled up or down as required.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did I mention that the netting was very cheap?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the front of the plot L made a mini cage for the currant</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More net (bigger gauge, same cost) was stretched between 2 ash trees to give support to the French Beans (Cobra). I eventually decided to put these in the ground, despite the lingering doubts over frost. They are surrounded by cat litter- the reason being that we bought some (very expensive) slug barrier which looked exactly like cat litter (that the cat refuses to use), so thought we'd give this a go instead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can't see the net from a distance, and I'm hoping if the beans actually grow they won't totally obscure the stripy greenhouse base.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, with a last look across the front of the plot, past the onions, to the front border and the water tank, we bid adieu to this fruit cage issue. Total cost of build = 7.5 p. I'm happy with that.</span><br />
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e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7412441422768729215.post-21374199823176431812013-05-13T16:35:00.000+01:002013-05-13T16:35:29.874+01:00It's all go on the allotment!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seems to be all go everywhere in fact! Spring is pressing on, despite the fact I'm freezing my proverbials off. So much is getting done on the plot, and we are trying not to neglect the garden too. I'm throwing myself into my remaining MA in Managing Archaeological Sites coursework and starting on my dissertation which is about managing and interpreting museum gardens. Phew! I'm also entering every competition I can find to win tickets for the Chelsea Flower Show.</span><br />
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Oak Leaves in Essex</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So. The allotment: the two cherries, pear and apple are in full bloom. And the Hibiscus trees at the front of the plot are starting their leaf bud. The fruit bushes have all sprung into vigorous life. The onions, shallots and garlic look....much the same as they have done for months. The peas and broad beans are surviving in a subtle and undemanding way. The sweet peas on wigwams are alive....and peaky looking. The strawberries are wildly flowering. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhz0BTLrIAWNkJadDmrhs5wpS1E_mPaNHJlcLryQGSs2ePL4wAD9p-IDKhx4BuPy77lABGFfaO-UoNqQVmXWLqGKCXxCqkP9vgG4jDfC442Xa4qmmUmyPJ1VFWRSCXe2_BwMgomxPHME/s1600/050+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhz0BTLrIAWNkJadDmrhs5wpS1E_mPaNHJlcLryQGSs2ePL4wAD9p-IDKhx4BuPy77lABGFfaO-UoNqQVmXWLqGKCXxCqkP9vgG4jDfC442Xa4qmmUmyPJ1VFWRSCXe2_BwMgomxPHME/s1600/050+%2528Large%2529.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Apples, please be pollinated</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The flowers in the front beds are looking lovely. I can't claim credit for most of them, but I can for the stripy tulips- I love them! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HCgfRldWoAQVTiyiNAf_9XNKaTDwHtDpM8_R4FyJ6eg_axBYoZgBqKP4i8it4zf1ws8vCeYFUcTP3gbk7XqmhtOW-wLbe5oeWx1ErByc972BXkozGUdaFNbZLHQyC3vrGv73JTnhvRE/s1600/100+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HCgfRldWoAQVTiyiNAf_9XNKaTDwHtDpM8_R4FyJ6eg_axBYoZgBqKP4i8it4zf1ws8vCeYFUcTP3gbk7XqmhtOW-wLbe5oeWx1ErByc972BXkozGUdaFNbZLHQyC3vrGv73JTnhvRE/s1600/100+%2528Large%2529.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The herb bed is filling out a little.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seedling-wise everything is coming on, much later than it should probably, but I've never found that a problem before but then I've never grown a tenth of what we have put in for the allotment!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQFj8ImZTC_5GOYvNqF6ZRLSeCaboSS-sPpF94BGTs7pDoJnQw2K2K-bcznwKIg1G-eQ6gcp5tQt58Ud6UTmn98kUtdhMyJN71ubHMQtv9_MyPtAqk9diR9sv1_bDgwcP0lQR35SNNwA/s1600/051+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQFj8ImZTC_5GOYvNqF6ZRLSeCaboSS-sPpF94BGTs7pDoJnQw2K2K-bcznwKIg1G-eQ6gcp5tQt58Ud6UTmn98kUtdhMyJN71ubHMQtv9_MyPtAqk9diR9sv1_bDgwcP0lQR35SNNwA/s1600/051+%2528Large%2529.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Do not allow your cat to sit on the nice warm seed trays for your tomatoes will come up squashed and wiggly</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To summarise the sowing since the last update:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Purple sprouting brocolli; beetroot; leeks; spring onion; salsify; radishes; lettuce; french bean (cobra and a normal type!); runner bean (Enorma and a friend's unknown variety); carrots; rocket (nothing doing with that, despite all promises on the packet!); sorrel; mixed oriental mustard leaves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black eyed Susan; nasturtium; more sweet peas; sunflower; pot marigold; tagetes and french marigold; teasel; flax; poached egg plant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Potted up:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peppers; chillies; tomatoes (Sungold, Gardeners' Delight; Moneymaker; Bloody Butcher; Roma); tomatillos (wonder if they are any good?); celeriac</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6fR11eVL_tSK6qFWFtYe6qgg0eM-mmefPgS5nNccmGFlz9wUJderPB-HTuYv8rlZw1ZUc6jaubZkdwWXskexZfhbAWXce3tADjXdQHEke6X45LHiJNhuF6r2tCxPqXxIOyLzH9e2fvI/s1600/053+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6fR11eVL_tSK6qFWFtYe6qgg0eM-mmefPgS5nNccmGFlz9wUJderPB-HTuYv8rlZw1ZUc6jaubZkdwWXskexZfhbAWXce3tADjXdQHEke6X45LHiJNhuF6r2tCxPqXxIOyLzH9e2fvI/s1600/053+%2528Large%2529.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Do not idiotically lose track of pots you have put seeds in and accidentally sow another lot in the same holes for you will lose track of the variety</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And other work on the allotment has included loads of toil by L to create a defined wild area at the back, in which we have planted wild garlic, foxgloves, snow drops, and celandine, and will allow some of the existing "weeds" to grow. L has also cleared out Big Greenhouse 2, painted up the others and been on a dandelion annihilation spree. N has been weeding like a man possessed..... Indeed, it is all go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>e17jlhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15364226741866390432noreply@blogger.com7