In Praise of Green

The allotment is really getting a lot greener at the moment, which is lovely to see. Even the flowers that are over have amazing leaves – just look at the tulips:

I also think the carnation is just beautiful without flowers – why do mine never form a lovely mound like this at home?? It’s a mystery …

Plus just look at the lilies – a simply gorgeous green:

Meanwhile the gladioli are coming along, and I planted another row today. I have two more rows (ie 20 bulbs) still to plant but I may well get more:

And look! The first pom-pom dahlia is pushing its way through the earth:

The autumn raspberries and currants are enjoying the weather (though it is a bit nippy today!) …

Sadly, some of the currants have rust fungus on them so K gave them a good spray today. It’s not a serious disease for currants and won’t kill the plant – we just thought we should give them the best fruiting chance we can.

The mangetouts and shallots are coming along nicely:

And there’s enough rhubarb for another crumble, hurrah!

Here is the harvest of asparagus and rhubarb, alongside two tulips and some sweet williams:

And here is the vase at home:

Happy Bank Holiday, everyone!

Anne Brooke Books

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Rhubarb Season

At last – it’s rhubarb season on the allotment and we’ve eaten the first of the crop today, hurrah. That said, I suspect we’re the last to harvest our rhubarb in the village, probably due to the fact we’ve not mulched it for a couple of years, wicked us … Will try to remember to add mulch some time soon!

Meanwhile the mangetouts are hanging on in there, and we’ve put slug doom on them today to give them a fighting chance:

Today we’ve planted lettuces and onions to add to the range of crops we’re growing. K netted the onions to give them some protection as there appears to be a secret onion chewer at loose throughout the plots – possibly rabbits, grr!

Meanwhile the autumn raspberry area is coming on well, and I’m trying to keep the weeds seriously at bay as it saves so much angst later on when I just can’t get in.

There are still a few daffodils about:

But it’s the tulips who are queen of all they survey right now. I do so love the striped ones – they’re amazing.

And even the lilies are looking hopeful.

I’ve also planted another couple of rows of gladioli that we bought yesterday, and I have another thirty left to plant over the weeks ahead. If I run out, I’ll get more as it’s nice to have some later blooms. Plus one of the earlier gladioli is already on its way!

Here is the harvest of rhubarb, tulips and daffodils:

And here are the vases at home:

Anne Brooke Books

Scented daffodils and tulip bulbs

The daffodils are really hitting their peak on the windy allotment today – and the first of the small scented ones are out, so that’s just amazing.

And the tulips are getting bigger, with some of them even showing buds, which is very exciting!

The rhubarb is growing:

Meanwhile, the soft fruit is showing the first signs of leaf, both in the autumn raspberry area and in the currant zone.

Not only that, but I’ve finally remembered to dig up the lupins for home and here they are with the daffodil harvest:

For now, we’ve planted the lupins in the cold frame in the back garden until we can work out where to put them but here is the daffodil vase – which is filling the kitchen with scent (bliss!):

 

Anne Brooke Books

The Windy Allotment

Very windy down at the allotment today – I thought the daffodils might get blown away when I was taking them back to the car, but they survived the journey, hurrah. Here they are in their beds:

The tulips are also doing well and have definitely grown:

But – guess what! – I’ve STILL not brought that poor lupin home – I will do it soon, really I will!

The rhubarb leaves are getting bigger:

And there are more leaves coming in the autumn raspberries, which is good news:

Here is the harvest of daffodils only:

And here they are in the vase – the colour is just so amazing.

Have a peaceful Sunday.

Anne Brooke Books

Soggy Allotment!

Goodness me, but the allotment was very soggy today – if we’d thought about it, we’d have taken our Wellingtons, but sadly we didn’t think about it, which meant a good towel dry for our feet and a change of socks when we got home. Plus a hot chocolate to warm us up again – always welcome!

Today there is one daffodil in flower and another one which should be in bloom next week, plus lots of shoots coming up.

The beetroot is still going strong and continues to give us winter veg for our dinners, hurrah:

Last week, as you can see, K nobly cut down all the autumn raspberry canes in preparation for this coming year’s crop. We can only hope they’ll give a better harvest this year …

Meanwhile, the moles are having a huge party and the hills are everywhere, LOL. It’s the gift that keeps on giving …

So, another minimal harvest this week of two beetroots and that lone daffodil. Still, not bad for mid January, that’s for sure.

And here is the daffodil at home:

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Anne Brooke Books