What a good week…

it’s been thanks to the glorious sunny weather, so I’ve been on the plot most days making the best of it.

There’s been plenty of wildlife to be seen including butterflies such as this Painted Lady on Mondayand a Speckled Wood on Thursday

I saw a fox, presumably Digger, wandering down an adjacent path and yesterday a mob of magpies were being very raucous at times.

I’ve said several times that the flowers are all but finished but there’s still some to be seen including an annual mallow, some pot marigolds and a few sunflowers

Even the rose Valentine Heart is in leaf and bud again!

Happy gardening!

Next Wednesday 30th September is National Microcephaly Day and  Fraggle’s son Robin has asked that we wear something yellow in support of this good cause.  I don’t think I’ve got any yellow clothes but as I’m likely to be on the plot I’ll pick and wear one of the yellow flowers, probably a pot marigold. 

Thursday 8th October 2009…

is National Poetry Day with the theme Heroes and Heroines.

This is to let you know that, as last year, I shall be doing a celebratory post including linking to friends who join in the fun with a post of their own.

Last year self-penned poems included ones by  Daffy, Glo (Porcelain Rose) and Veg Plotting. However if you’re like me and don’t write poetry then still join in by quoting, or linking  to, an appropriate favourite.

Glo and the singing frogs!

It’s a really beautiful morning here, the birds are singing and so are the frogs!

I know that nowadays time seems to fly by but I need to check that it’s definitely September, not October, 24th as I’ve been wished a happy birthday!

Whoops, but never mind as it’s now my unbirthday and it has certainly got off to a hilarious start thanks to Glo and the singing frogs!

Have a good day!

Autumnwatch

Yes it’s that time of year again, although if you think that it has come somewhat early then you’re right!

This Autumnwatch also sees a new format with a once a week programme over the next two months starting next Friday 2nd October on BBC2 at 9.00pm.  Note the later time, and it’s being repeated on Saturday  tea-time.

There will the usual line-up of presenters with Simon King, Kate Humble, Chris Packham, Gordon Buchanan and Martin Hughes-Games.

Glo (Porcelain Rose) celebrated her 200th post  earlier this week with an entry about killer whales that friends of hers recently saw over in Vancouver!  By co-incidence Gordon Buchanan will be tracking these magnificent creatures in the North Sea, which promises to be one of the series highlights.

As always there’s the excellent, informative and interesting Autumnwatch website for news updates, blogs, webcams, messageboards, photo sharing, home movies, links to other UK wildlife websites and video clips from the BBC Natural History Unit archives.

If anyone uses the messageboard you’ll find me there as LawnLounger!

Autumnwatch Unsprung is being shown immediately afterwards,  at 10.oopm on BBC2,  in which Martin Hughes-Games chairs an audience led informal discussion and debate show.

Have a good weekend!

Plot plants ~ nasturtiums

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is a plant that has various gourmet uses as belied by the South American Indian name Indian Cress.The leaves have a tangy cress-like flavour which can be used in salads. The flowers,  which  have a similar taste,  make a good salad garnish or can be pickled.     The flower buds  and young seeds are used as caper substitutes. Mature seeds can be roasted and eaten, and make a good pepper alternative.

I’m just happy to grow nasturtiums on the plot for their looks!  The orange and red flowers I find slightly garish but I like the maroon and yellow ones. Even better is the aptly named variety Peach Melba which I find most attractive,and is now the new header picture as well.

I’ve saved seeds from the plants that have grown on the plot which should give me another good display next year.

Hello again!

I went to top up the wildlife pond with water this morning and look who I saw!I would like to think that it’s Frog Newton who I last saw when I was just Pottering and pondering in June last year.  Then he was only an inch or so long but now he’d comfortably fill the palm of my hand.

At least he stayed still long enough for me to get this photo before he hopped off into the long grass.

Agatha Christie Week

Thanks to lawn lounger Re I’m reminded that it’s Agatha Christie Week.

It’s not surprising that I’ve long been a fan as my mum had all her books,  and  always said that she read them aloud whilst cradling me when I was a baby!

I noticed this article in the Guardian yesterday which is all about which are considered to be Agatha Christie’s ten best mysteries.

As well as the books I enjoyed the BBC TV adaptions of the Miss Marple stories featuring Joan Hickson. I’ve not been too keen on any of the other TV adaptions that have been done.

I’ve also always liked the long running Agatha Christie’s Poirot adaptions on ITV featuring David Suchet, who really has made the character his own.

I have to say that when I’m at the library and can’t see any books that I want then I invariably borrow one or two of her novels which are always on the shelf.  I suppose that for me they can be called comfort reading!

Have a good weekend, and happy reading!

Just for a change…

I was busy plotting last week I’m glad to say! The weather has been sunny and comfortably warm so I’ve done a lot of much needed, and overdue, weeding.

I’ve also started clearing the areas where I’m going to plant my rhubarb, courtesy of Joe, and next year’s potatoes.

Just about the only flowers still to be seen are a few sunflowers,and this one double zinnia!

I also collected seeds from various flowers including aquilegias (columbines), pot marigolds,love-in a-mist, nasturtiums and sweet peas. More about these another time when I’ve sorted them all out.

At the hut last week I bought 20 mini daffodils, of several varieties,  and 20 white (I think, indeed hope!) crocus all of which I’ll be planting in the long planter that, thanks to Fox Digger, has stood empty since the spring.  The larger daffodils that were in it I’m planting out on the plot.

I also bought three hyacinth bulbs for growing indoors, hopefully to flower at Christmas.  They’re the variety City of Harlem which as you see are pale yellow and very fragrant. I’ve been reading up what to do and will let you know how I get on!

Happy gardening!

More sofa flying

As it becomes more autumnal there’s no doubt that we’ll all be doing less lawn lounging and more sofa flying, except perhaps Disgruntled!

I tend to read more books over the coming months and I’ve decided to re-read all the D.I. Charlie Priest series of crime novels written by Stuart Pawson.

The first one is The Picasso Scam originally published in 1995 although I recently bought a good second-hand 2004 paperback for the princely sum of £1-29 plus £2-75 p&p!

The most recent book in the series is Grief Encounters which I wrote about in the post The KitKat cop early last year.

I had hoped that the next in the series would be published this year but reading  Stuart Pawson’s – Diary/Blog & News recently I see that although it’s written it presumably won’t be published until next year, and still needs a title!

Have a good weekend!

The Show

9.00am I walk through the allotment then round the corner to arrive at the Sports and Social Club where it’s already busy with committee members, helpers and a few exhibitors unloading vehicles. Inside the tables are covered in black cloths so that 125 class labels and well over 400 entry cards can be laid out.On the left is Ron,  committee member,  and to the right John,  show committee member, who are also both keen exhibitors.  Christine, the show secretary, asks if I’d like to be a steward, tells me what is involved and I say that I’d be more than happy to oblige.

10.30am There are lots more people now as all exhibits have to be staged by 11.45am. The tables are becoming covered with vegetables, fruit and  flowers in an abundance 0f colours, shapes and sizes. Here’s a view of the tomato entries.

12.00am The hall has now been now cleared for judging. I’m with Peter, an old hand at stewarding, and we accompany the vegetables judge. Once he’s reached his decisions and noted them on the entry cards we label them accordingly and also note them on a form that’s later used to enable the certificates to be printed ready for the prize giving later on.  It has proved most enlightening seeing the judge at work, with Peter clarifying and pointing out various details. I’m sure that this will be most useful to me next year when I hope to enter a few exhibits.

1.30pm The judging is all done and we adjourn for lunch. A sumptuous  buffet  has been done by Barbara, a show committee member. As I’m a growing lad I have seconds, and even thirds!  We all relax and chat  light-heartedly.

2.30pm The doors are opened to the public. The first people to enter are several anxious looking exhibitors hurrying to see if they’re prize winners, whilst others are far more easy going.  The hall gradually fills up  and as I walk round it’s all…hello…well done…hard luck…have you seen…look at that…if only the weather…next year…

I stop at the tombola stand, manned by Martin, to buy a few tickets.All the prizes are tickets ending in 0 or 5.  Oh look…110…I’ve won something! It’s a packet of aster coloured carpet flower seeds and a soil pH testing kit. Don’t tell anyone but I rather fancied one of the cuddly toys!

A couple of people think that this dahliawhich was placed third is better than the ones judged first and second. I have  to agree with them!

Someone says that society member/helper, and a show sponser,  Dave has won the domestic class  Rock cakes, 4 in number, MEN ONLY! That has us laughing, all the more so when his wife relates his exploits in the kitchen making them!

One of  my favourite entries is in the children’s class A model animal made from one or more vegetables and accessories. It’s a cat made from a potato with a small sunflower face. I forget to take a photo, and don’t actually take many all day as I seem to be busy or chatting.

Perhaps the talking point of the day is Joe’s Italian squash which is on show  but has not been entered as an exhibit.It’s the 3 1/2 foot long, 8 1/2 kg  pale green vegetable. No one seems to know exactly what it is, and I  even asked on the Allotments 4 All forum last week.  The marrows in the picture are for the heaviest class, and I was right when I guessed that Joe’s (top left) at well over 9 kg was just a few grams heavier than John’s (top right).

3.45pm The alderman of the borough presents the cups and prizes.Plenty of the vegetable ones go to Joe and John, whilst  Graham is king of the dahlias as usual. Along with all the other winners they receive their prizes to well earned applause.

4.15pm It’s time to start removing the exhibits,  including the pumpkins.

5.00pm The hall is empty and that’s it for another year.  Several committee members,  show committee members and myself go into the bar for a drink or two, which in my case is a glass of lemonade. They all say  it was a really good day which went well, and that it’s the best  year yet.

7.00pm I’m home, shoes off and kettle boiling for a cup of tea. It’s been a long, tiring day but one which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m already looking forward to next year when I’ll be happy to help out, be a steward again, hopefully enter a few exhibits and just possibly be among the prize winners!

Footnote It should be remembered that it’s thanks to everyone who grows, or makes, then enters the exhibits,  the small number of dedicated show committee members, helpers and people just visiting for a look round that the show is actually being  held.  Well done everybody I applaud you all! Above all it’s enjoyable, and great fun,  so if you don’t already then why not support your local event next time.