30th April 2018
Despite the UK winter not wanting to let go, things have been happening in the garden and on the allotment.
The camelia by the front door has limped on for another year. It struggles all year then throws out these perfect blooms. Each year we threaten to dig it out and replace it with something that will be happier but then spring arrives and we hesitate!
Pear blossom looks so beautiful but smells awful! Attractive to moths and other insects, no doubt, but not to human noses.
The daffodils eventually bloomed (and were worth waiting for) ...
… as did the tulips. I took this photo on the hottest day this year so far, in very bright sunshine. The colour is so vivid! It doesn’t look real, I know.
I think Alchemilla Mollis looks beautiful all year round, especially when the rain drops jewels onto its leaves.
We harvested the last parsnips. I think they look like they’re sunbathing here!
The rhubarb has begun to crop! It’s a variety called Champagne and it’s doing very well. There’s plenty more where that came from!
First earlies (Maris Bard) and second earlies (Charlotte) are planted.
All the tall beans are sown, with extra pots of runner beans to sell at the allotment plant sale.
These coal beans are so shiny! They look like little aubergines in the photo but actually they are very black. They look very attractive in a mixed bean salad.
The strawberries are potted up and hanging in the polytunnel. Just six plant this year as a little experiment to see how they do.
And finally, the chinese leaves I sowed came up within four days!!! The seed packets are in Chinese and the only leaves I know for certain are bok choi. I’ve given the others my own names and written it on the packets so I know what’s what but we’re going to be having some interesting stir-fries over the next few months!
