A combination of continuing unsettled, wet weather and working extra days/hours in the bookshop has meant that I’ve not managed to spend as much time on the plot as I would have liked.
This updates happenings since my last Plot 124 entry Rain stopped play two weeks ago!
On the vegetable areas I’ve planted my well chitted maincrop potatoes and as you can see put the canes up for the runner beans
I’ve got the varietyPainted Lady which has white faced flowers with bright red lips. I won’t be sowing the seeds until around this time next month.
The comfrey which died right back over the winter is now growing well again
The strawberries that John gave me last autumn not only died back but rotted away in the wet ground. Joe noticed that they’d gone so kindly said to help myself to a few of his. This I did and have planted these in a different place where he thought that they should grow okay. You can see them at the front of this photo 
The light coloured area is where the raspberry canes are, most of which are now showing good signs of growth. The blackberries, top right, are also growing well.
Because I’m going to to grow more vegetables than I originally intended I’ve sown the packet of mixed herbs in an area that I was going to have flowers.
My single Iceberg rose has woken up at last 
but has a long way to go before it looks like this!
Dotted around the flower patches are this aquilegia
, several clumps of this 
, some daisies 
which are growing at the left hand end of the log 
Note the self-seeded poppies growing along the edges of the wood chip path.
Ladybirds appear to have colonised my original log 
as I’ve seen several sunning themselves on it recently. As you can see the mild, wet weather has certainly made the grass grow. I clipped it where it’s growing down the plot edges but left it long the pond, wild flower and log pile area. I also left any of these for the bees but will pick them before they get the chance to do this!
I had a good look under the shed on Friday and there’s no robin’s nest there. I’m glad to see that there are still a few tadpoles taddling in the pond. It was also good to see some of these fluttering around.
It was a really nice day and there were quite a few fellow allotmenteers there who all wanted to chat, which I was happy to do. Today it’s wet yet again, and the forecast is the same for most of the coming week. I don’t mind too much as I’m working extra in the bookshop again so won’t have time to do more than take a stroll there for a quick look round. However I do hope that it improves for the Bank Holiday weekend.
After lunch I shall be settling down to sofafly with a cup of tea, some biscuits and a copy of Sally Hinchcliffe’s first novel Out of a Clear Sky. You all know her better as Disgruntled Commuter/City Exile.
20 responses so far ↓
Glo // April 27, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I have enjoyed having a good old poke around your plot, thanks to the photos and write-up. Things are looking well, aren’t they? (couldn’t enlarge the smoother log photo) It’s great to have the ground prepared for planting, and great fun to see what comes up on their own. I must say all this gardening talk has inspired me to get out in my own and take notice. We seem to be experiencing similar weather patterns. It’s wonderful to see you are taking such good care of your plot, and one day it will be absolutely stunning!
Flighty // April 27, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Glo I enjoy writing it as it’s my record of what I’ve done! It’s a bit deceptive as there’s still a lot of bare earth, which of course I need for all the seeds I shall be sowing soon.
It’s nice to know that it has inspired you in your garden. You mean unsettled and wet!
I like to think I do, and I hope that’s what it’ll be like one day! xx
midwifemuse // April 27, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I’ve just put my canes up and was worried that I had left it too late so thank you for reassuring me by saying that you will not be planting for a month. I love aquilegia especially a white one that has arrived by chance. amongst the deep purple ones.
Flighty // April 27, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Midwifemuse hello! I’ve just rechecked my book which says sow runner bean seeds outside late May onwards.
The aquilegia is self-seeded and I wonder what colour it is. xx
daffy // April 28, 2008 at 8:36 am
It looks to be coming along leaps and bounds. All of your hard work is going to be worth it. Looking at the pictures I can see that it really is looking more established now.
I love ladybirds… not sure why, perhaps it’s just the vibrant colour.
My lawn is littered with daisies at the moment, they seem to come over night! I have one beautiful lone tulip in the front garden and a few lovely tulips in the front minus any leaves!! Yes, you guessed it! The leaves became bunny supper.
Have a good week! :o)
Flighty // April 28, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Daffy it probably has but just doesn’t seem like it to me at the moment. I’ll be happier when more plants start to grow!
I suppose that ladybirds are most people’s favourite insect!
Daisies can rather swamp a lawn if left unchecked.
If the tulip leaves have all gone the rabbits must have enjoyed them!
Thanks, you too! xx
daffy // April 28, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Yes, you are right, the front lawn has a daisy carpet at the moment. We could have a daisy chain making party…
They will grow soon! Just you wait until you get a bit of sunshine and the right amount of rain and before you know it shoots will be sprouting, flowers will be blooming and I’ll be there collecting my strawberries… xx
Flighty // April 28, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Daffy a daisy chain making party sounds like great fun…
I know they will! It’s just that the last couple of months weather has been so unhelpful.
I’ll be keeping a close lookout on your strawberries, my raspberries and our blackberries! xx
mylozmom // April 29, 2008 at 3:37 pm
look at you with all your wonderful photo’s!!! Thankfully the nicer weather has hit us here now too so spring has finally sprung for us. Maybe I’ll post some of my garden…….
Flighty // April 29, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Mylozmom thanks, I’m glad that you like them! Lucky you, it’s been a miserably wet day here today. I think that you should! xx
daffy // April 29, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Flighty I hate to say this but it has been and still is, really lovely here today. Like an early summers day. I think I even saw a butterfly! :o)
Do the ladybirds do any damage or do they bring more benenfits to the garden? I’ve never really known the purpose of a ladybird, if that is the right word. :o) xx
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Flighty // April 29, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Daffy lucky you! It’s been a pretty miserable day here and has been raining hard for the past couple of hours.
Ladybirds are definitely gardeners’ friends as they eat aphids (garden pests). xx
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/412.shtml
mylozmom // April 29, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Oh flighty trust me when I say it’s been rainy here too but that’s what’s making all our flowers come up so beautifully. April showers bring May flowers is the saying around here and it’s true too. I love that my birthday is at the end of May cause it’s such a gorgeous sight at that time of year!
isadora // April 29, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Hello,
It is nice to look at the photos and to be able to see how your plot is coming along .
Fine healthy looking comfrey you’ve got there :yes:
Flighty // April 29, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Mylozmom I believe you! That’s a good saying and it’s a beautiful time of year to have a birthday. xx
Flighty // April 29, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Isadora hello, and welcome! Thanks, it’ll be good to compare it with later on in the year.
It’s really grown very quickly! xx
VP // April 30, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I think we’re all suffering from lack of allotment time Flighty. However, yours is looking very good indeed
Hopefully this pesky rain will keep off tomorrow morning when I’m planning to visit good old plot 14…
Flighty // April 30, 2008 at 8:42 pm
VP hello! When I’ve had the time it’s been raining.
Thanks! It still looks very bare but this morning in the rain there were lots of new things visible since last week.
I’ve got my fingers crossed for you!
Thanks again for the lovely award that you gave me, it’s much appreciated. xx
Becky // May 1, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Everything looks so yummy!
Flighty // May 1, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Becky hello and welcome! Thanks, I hope that it’ll look even better in a couple of months! xx
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