Allotment Heaven

A link to share from 'Crisis at Christmas'

2012-01-18T20:25:00.000Z

I hope this link works as this is the centre where I volunteered on Christmas day.( such a fabulous college) in North London. Click on the YouTube video ( you have to scroll down a bit on the page that comes up) to see how wonderful 'Crisis ' is. It was amazing to take part. I have only just seen this link so thought I would share it.
http://www.crisis.org.uk/news.php/376/thousands-welcomed-by-crisis-at-christmas-in-its-40th-year

Almost time to get back on the allotment now. I have to admit that I have been putting it off until the weather turns and the evenings get a little lighter, which is happening gradually it was still fairly light the other evening at 4.45pm. I'm sure there are lots of you who have already started on your allotments. There are a few plot holders on ours that work whatever the weather, but I know from past experience its possible to catch up, so I'm in no hurry.

A Very Happy New Year to you all

2012-01-03T19:25:00.000Z

Well it's all over and a New Year has begun ! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you have lot's of plans for the coming year for the allotment and garden.

The weather is dreadful at the moment, high winds, rain and grey skies, but we can't complain as it's still very mild for this time of year and as long as we don't have snow at Easter ( we have in the past !) I for one am happy that we are having a mild winter.

I worked my two volunteering shifts with the homeless in London, one on Christmas day and again on the 27th December and it was just as great as last year, but this year we had a beautiful College in Kings Cross in which to feed, entertain and pamper our 'Guests' . The kitchens were first class so the volunteer chefs were very happy and cooked some very delicious meals over the 'Crisis for Christmas' week. The showers worked a treat and were used a lot, although we did have a chap who stayed in so long that the steam set the fire alarm off. We had to vacate the building and line the next street until all was deemed safe to go back in. So we had to make sure anyone using the showers only stayed in for 5-10 mins after that.

There was a doctor, podiatrist, optician, hairdresser, and all sorts of therapists who gave their time freely to enable the guests to have a brilliant Christmas. We had entertainers, a brass band, and an Opera singer, bingo, karaoke and arts and crafts. It was amazing what 'Crisis' had achieved. The lovely actress Sian Phillips (who was once married to Peter O'Toole) was there again this year and she has been giving up her Christmas for a number of years and really mucked in and didn't mind what jobs she was given, a true 'Star'.

I was lucky that my family indulged me again this year in not minding me 'doing my thing' and I made up for it when we all spent boxing day together and also New Year. Next Christmas I will do other days though rather than Christmas day so as to be fair to them. It's addictive though. Most volunteers go back each year.

I have to now get on and plan what seeds to sow and when to sow them, so a look through my bulging seed box is a must this coming week. I haven't been to the allotment for weeks it's too depressing in this dismal weather.

Wishing you all A Happy New Year.
M x

A happy Ending to the Orla Kiely mug problem

2011-12-23T17:08:00.001Z

I received an e-mail from the Orla Kiely customer service dept and they directed me to the company who makes their mugs as they had offered to replace them for me. I was very pleased and so grateful.

I contacted the company with my name and address and a photo of the mugs I have and within a few days they had sorted it all out for me. Apparently they had a bad batch that hadn't been glazed properly and mine must have been part of that batch. I am so impressed with the speed and generosity of the company as I received more mugs than I had bought. They arrived this morning and are lovely. They also said that they are posting out two more in January. Amazing customer service

I love them !!

Have a Very Happy Christmas everyone and a Healthy and Happy New Year

M xxxx

Does anyone else have a problem with Orla Kiely mugs ? or is it just me ?

2011-12-14T11:15:00.000Z

I have just e-mailed Orla Kiely customer services as I can't be the only one who has a problem with their beautiful and very expensive mugs ! the problem is the quality of the bone china mugs they use. Let me explain ! they stain so badly and even the dishwasher doesn't move the stains. I have resorted to using a kitchen spray that has added bleach, which I know wont be doing any good whatsoever to the long term life of the mugs, but I'm desperate. I have even used a teapot rather than putting the teabag directly in the mugs, but that didn't work either.

I have other bone china mugs that cost half the price and they never stain, so this is very annoying especially as they cost £8.50 each. What an expensive mistake !! I realise that you pay for the design, but I expect quality as well for that money !! OK moan over, and I am waiting for their reply. In the meantime does anyone else have these mugs ?? and do you have the same problem.

I feel better now I've aired that !
M x

A problem with blogger

2011-12-13T18:11:00.000Z

I seem to be having a problem with blogger and wondered if anyone else has ? I have tried to upload a new header photo on a few occasions and every time I do I get a message saying " sorry but you have exceeded your photo upload quota" but how come I can keep uploading photo's to the main body of my posts then ?? I don't understand, anyone else had this problem ??? if so please tell me what you did about it.

I haven't been a good blogger of late and I feel bad about that. I have however been reading other peoples blogs and it seems that everyone is busy doing Christmasy things. There is certainly nothing for me to blog about the allotment as I haven't been up there for weeks and I don't intend growing anything throughout the winter, I guess I'm out of love with my plot at the moment, but come the Spring I hope to be back in the mood again, fingers crossed !

All my presents are now bought and most wrapped and some even given out to those I wont see over the Christmas. I am working in London again this year with with the homeless. 'Crisis' has been going for 40 years this year and they do a wonderful job, not just at Christmas but all year round.

I will work an early shift on Christmas day and a late shift on 27th. I can't wait as last year I got so much pleasure from it that I didn't feel that I was sacrificing my Christmas at all, in fact it was special working with the people there, and we had such a lovely Christmas day. I get to spend Boxing day with the family and give the grandchildren our presents to open then, so they have another present opening day. We will also spend New Year with the family, so what's a few days to give up for a worthy cause. In case your wondering ! my husband will be well looked after with the family and doesn't mind me doing 'my thing'.

I also get to spend time with my youngest son and his partner as they are volunteering again as well, so I will have Christmas dinner with them in the evening when we finish our shift.

I haven't really put up lot's of decorations as we wont be at home, but a few here and there and lovely candles look warm and inviting.

A feast for the eyes as well as the table.

2011-11-21T22:58:00.000Z

Here is a book you will definitely want on your Christmas list if you love Indian food and beautiful photography and all things Indian. I know I do and was very excited to be sent this book to review. It's a very large coffee table book, covered in a sumptuous silky fabric, looking very eastern indeed.

Looking inside is indeed a feast for the eyes. The photographs taken throughout India by photographer Anson Smart are stunning. The colours are amazing and each section of the book is of a different region of India. Then comes the recipes ! there are 250 and they look and sound delicious. I have to admit that some I wouldn't try as they seem a bit elaborate and need a lot of ingredients, but there are plenty that anyone with a longing to learn different kinds of spicy Indian recipes would care to try. I think most people think only of Curry when it comes to Indian cooking, but actually lots of regions of India don't actually have curry as we know it but they do have lovely spicy food that would be easy to try for ourselves.

The author is Christine Mansfield and she is one of Australia's most celebrated chefs. She has eaten her way around India for more than two decades, and has collected family recipes as well as from prominent Indian chefs for this book. Looking through and reading the book (there is plenty to read for the traveller) she clearly loves India and it's colourful people and quite obviously loves it's food and culture. So we can use this book as a way to get to know more about India as well as an insight into it's regional food (which is so varied) and of course there is all 250 of delicious recipes to drool over and perhaps try our hand at cooking.
If you consider buying it as a present or for yourself, do look around as the price varies from book supplier to shop.

Here is a selection of pages from the book just to give you an idea of how gorgeous it is.

If you get a chance to look through this book anywhere please do as I think you will fall in love with it. I know I have.

A bit of a natter about this and that !!

2011-11-12T14:44:00.000Z

I thought I'd just have a bit of a natter about this and that ! there isn't anything going on at the allotment. I have nothing to harvest, and I don't intend to grow anything throughout the winter months this year. I am having a break from winter growing. As tempted as I am by reading other blogs and seeing what others are up to on their plots make me feel a little lazy, but I really hate going up there throughout the winter, so decision made !!!! no growing this year.

The garden on the other hand has only just started to give up it's colour and be beaten by the colder mornings. The dahlias are still clinging on and amazingly I have a sweet-pea which is still flowering ( I must look out the packet of seeds) I know it wasn't 'Cupani' which is a similar colour, but this sweet-pea has a larger flower.

The dahlia below was a surprise as I had forgotten to lift it last year and so it suddenly grew and grew and then flowered all summer and I have just cut it back this week. It had a beautiful Gladioli growing in front of it that complimented it colour so well.

I have no idea what this dahlia is called,(above ) but it is so pretty. I think I will take it up or at least some of the tubers. Trouble is I am running out of space to store them over winter. I have lifted all my 'Pink Giraffe' as they are so special and can't be bought (as far as I know) in garden centres and only seem to be available from dahlia specialists. I bought my one at the 'Hampton Court' flower show years ago, and now have dozens from lifting and dividing from that one plant. The photo's below don't really do justice to the colour, but as you can see it's form is unlike most dahlias and has many people (myself included ) fooled as to what it is when first seen.

I have had a little time to browse blogs this week and I have to say there are some very inspirational ones out there, makes me feel that I'm not keeping up !! I enjoy doing the book reviews and feel lucky that I have the books sent to me to review. The last one which I did as a giveaway is lovely. I do have another to review next week and it's an amazing book about India, both travel and cookery combined, so watch out for it. If you are a fan of Indian cooking and culture, it's possibly one for your Christmas list.

I hope you all have a lovely week-end and whatever you are doing have a good one !
M x

And the WINNER is ..............

2011-11-11T16:43:00.001Z

Ready steady GO ... my friend Frances picks a winner .......................

Well done to Angela and thanks to everyone who took part

Angela please get in touch with your address.

Last few days to get your name down for the giveaway

2011-11-09T01:10:00.000Z

We now have 17 names down for the giveaway, so I thought that seeing as I did say that as soon as I have enough interest that I'd do the draw. So I am going to get a friend to pick a name on Friday and the winner will be announced on Friday evening. So you still have a few more days to leave your comment.

A fantastic giveaway

2011-11-01T20:06:00.003Z

I have had a beautiful cookery book sent to me for a review, which will be easy as I love it. The recipes are very interesting in that they come from various countries that I gather the author has visited, such as Italy, France, Ireland, America, Scandinavia, and also some good old English ones. The photography is brilliant and I have to say even if I were to rarely cook from it (oh but I will!) I just love looking through the book as it's 'scrumptious !!!! another lovely thing about the book is that it is very readable as the author not only gives a recipe but also writes a little about her travels to each country and there are little interesting quotes and folk sayings on most pages. I'll keep you in suspense no longer and tell you the title and the author :-
The book is titled ' Roast Figs Sugar Snow' food to warm the soul. by 'Diana Henry'

On the front cover Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall says and I quote !

" Diana Henry's passion is infectious and her recipes tantalizing"

Here are some photo's from the book:
(sorry they aren't that great ! but the pages are shiny so were hard to photograph)

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY .......... TAH DAH !!

After I had received the book I e-mailed the person who had sent it to me to thank her, and I mentioned that I had planned to do a giveaway to my readers on the blog, however after looking through it I couldn't bear to part with it !! I then got an e-mail back saying that the publishers would send me another copy of the book for the giveaway, (that means I get to keep my copy !!!) how very kind is that ?? so thank you Camilla.

So all you have to do is leave me a comment on this blog to say that you would like to enter the draw for the book, and when I have enough interest I will get a friend to pull a name out of the hat. Then someone will be the owner of a very lovely book. I will give a couple of weeks before I do the draw so as to give people time to leave a comment with a name and a link. Please let anyone you know who loves cooking .
Good Luck

PS. there is only one thing which I regret and that is I am unable to post outside the UK as it would cost me too much, BUT if you live abroad and are prepared to pay the postage I would be happy to get a quote from the post office if you want to enter and happen to win.

M x

A post at last !!

2011-10-14T00:24:00.000+01:00

I realise that I haven't been a very good blogger recently ! that goes for posting on my own blog and reading other blogs also. I have been busy on the allotment and helping my son out with a recent house move, a niece's wedding in Italy, and clearing out my loft and selling things on e-bay which is all new to me. Some things I feel reluctant to sell, but hey ! they were only hanging about in my loft (for years) and I do need extra freezer space in the garage, so I thought why not sell a few items to help save up for a fridge/freezer for the garage to take all the extra fruit and veg I grew that had to be frozen. I am learning that if your not careful it can cost rather a lot to pay for all the bits and bobs (Insertion fees, photographs of the item, to name a few) to put things on e-bay and if one isn't careful you can actually be out of pocket if the item doesn't sell.

The allotment news is that most of my beds are cleared. I have halved my raspberry patch which had started off as 13 canes almost four years ago and ended up looking like a forest of canes which made it hard to harvest. I think I may have grown and planted too many globe artichokes, so I may take a few out as they take up so much space. But I wont make the decision until next year or I may end up regretting it.

Today I went up to plant the garlic, a bit later than I planned but still within the time needed for them to go in.

I dug up all but five of my precious 'pink giraffe' dahlias and now have an amazing amount of tubers which all came from one plant purchased a few years back at the Hampton Court flower show. I still have a number of them flowering in my garden as well, so a good supply for next year. Here's a photo of the lovely flowers , as you can see they aren't your ordinary dahlia, the spikey flower is quite unusual and anyone seeing it for the first time always ask what it is and never recognise it as a dahlia, myself included when I first saw it.

The pumpkins and squashes were a little disappointing this year, but the little 'munchkins' squashes were good.

I have been thinking about what i want to grow next year on the plot and making lists and now need to plan what is going where. I'm not very organised with my planning and have to guess what went where last year and rotate my crops a bit haphazardly, so next year I intend to keep a proper record ( my inner voice is saying -YEAH YEAH, heard it all before !!!!!) So that's about all my news and now I need to find time to have a read at what all you busy people have been up to and hopefully gleen a few tips and great ideas that you might have.
Have a great week-end
M xx

Clearing up and putting to bed

2011-09-24T19:46:00.002+01:00

It's that time again !! you know the time when the plot and the garden looks untidy, with dead or dying plants and it really all needs clearing up and putting to bed for the autumn and winter months. YEAH !! I look forward to doing this as it's a time of reflection and planning for next year.
My son moved recently and in the garden there was a brilliant cold frame that I had my eye on, sadly the elderly lady had died and her family didn't want it and left it behind. So I have it now on the allotment plot. I just need to buy some more glass and bits and bobs for it and it will be so handy. I love it.

We worked on the plot for two half days this week, pulling up plants that had finished, weeding (lots) covering some beds, moving my strawberry bed to somewhere sunnier and planting new runners and new varieties. I also planted a Victoria Plum tree that was in the sale at our local garden centre. It's in and staked and fingers crossed there will be plums next year as it is a mature potted tree.

The plum tree

The Cape gooseberry plant in the greenhouse has been very productive and I have had quite a number of fruits off it and there are still more to ripen. I will have another go growing another next year and put it in an even bigger pot and give it more room to grow.

Cape Gooseberries.

The chillies have been amazig this year. I grew about four different varieties, one in particular is VERY hot.

This year wasn't a successful year for the Pumpkins and squashes, but I have had some and they look lovely.

The Globe artichokes surprised me by having so many fruits on for their first year, but the hearts weren't very big and that's the best part for me especially pickled in olive oil and garlic. So I decided to not harvest this year and I allowed them to produce their amazing flowers. The bees love them and so do I.

And here is a photo of the plot looking tidy and although a bit bare there is still some things to pick for instance mangetout which is the second sowing and there is an amazing amount of spinach which is still producing tasty leaves. It looks even tidier now as the grass has been cut since the photo was taken.

That's about all my news for now. I know I have been a bit neglectful of the blog and my blog reading recently, but we have been in London quite a bit.

I hope you have all had some wonderful harvests this year and if not ! Well there is always next year.

Where did the week go ?

2011-08-26T17:46:00.000+01:00

I can't believe it's a week since I last posted ! I don't know about you but I am so fed up with the rain now !
OK it's good for the plants in moderation but these downpours have played havoc with the raspberries and the beans are going patchy and mouldy. I have actually dug up and composted so many plants as I can't bear to see the plot looking so untidy.

Next year we are planning to re-design the whole plot. The strawberry bed and the raspberries aren't getting enough sun and were a bit on the small side this year, so they have to be moved. In fact I think I will start again with some new strawberry plants from runners and different varieties of both raspberries and strawberries. I also want to make a larger cutting bed where I will grow my flowers in neat rows, rather than scattered all over the plot in different places. I cut enough Asters the other evening to fill three vases, they have been brilliant. I also had a decent harvest of veg, photo below -

The raspberries were small, but are OK to make my favourite 'Raspberry Curd' I did get a few large ones from someone else to eat with ice cream. Those are the ones on top, my small squidgy ones are underneath getting even more squashed.

Makes all the work worth while when I come home with this kind of pickings.

Have a good week-end

Allotment and Garden Update

2011-07-30T01:59:00.145+01:00

After a very busy couple of months, two fabulous family weddings, (one being in Italy), I am finally back to my normal routine. Well almost !! The allotment was so overgrown when we got back from Italy and finally managed to get up there. I set about pulling up the onions and drying them off to store. The mangetout were almost over and the next later sown three rows ready to be staked and netted. I am still picking runner and french beans. There has been so many that my neighbours have benefited too. The flower beds on the allotment are amazing, especially the 'Asters' the colours are beautiful. Just look at this bouquet I cut last week and I have more dotted around the house too.

Aster 'Duchess Mixed' from 'Wilko's'

The Globe Artichokes are a good size, but I really only love the hearts and they were a little disappointing when I cooked some of them as the hearts weren't worth all the effort that the cooking took, maybe next year when the plants are a year old !!

The garlic has been brilliant this year as have the onions, so they should all last me until next year.

Courgettes, not too bad but nowhere near as prolific as in recent years, and tomatoes not as good as I usually get either. In fact last year I couldn't keep up with either and had to make pasta sauce and freeze in batches, Oh well !!

As for my garden this year it has been fantastic. I grew more flowers from seed than I have ever done in the past and the Asters and Zinnia's have been so beautiful. I will grow them every year from now on. The 'Cerinthe' is a lovely and prolific as ever, the spikey marigolds unusual and lovely as long lasting cut flowers. The Dahlias never cease to amaze me for their longevity and the most precious one for me is my very first which is 'Pink Giraffe' have a look at this selection of photo's to see what I mean.

The Garden in Bloom

Calendula 'Porcupine'

Sutton seeds

Zinnia - Sutton seeds

Zinnia (pastel shades) 'Faberge Mix' Sutton seeds

'Cerinthe' seeds collected from previous years plants

'Cosmos' Millennium, Unwins seeds, these are bright beautiful shades of yellows through to oranges and the foliage is less feathery than the pink and white shades, it's more ferny, well worth growing they are lovely. ( sorry photo a bit blurry)

Dahlia 'Pink Giraffe'

I have been visiting and catching up with the blogs I usually read but apologise that I haven't had time to leave comments. Sometimes I long for the autumn and winter months so that I can get back to some reading and my crafts. I love the allotment and garden, but between visiting my family and spending days at my son's enjoying the grandchildren life gets hectic and I never seem to have time to fit everything in.

Have a lovely week-end and let's hope the sun shines !!!

R.I.P Amy

2011-07-25T12:39:00.002+01:00

You had a troubled life and a struggle with your addictions, you had your faults but no-one is perfect ! Your voice was/ is amazing and you will never be forgotten, what a waste of a young and talented life . R.I.P Amy

Graffiti Art on a van in Camden where Amy lived and was loved. I took this photo when I visited Camden last year.

My faith in customer service has been restored

2011-07-18T22:15:00.001+01:00

A few posts ago I wrote about painting my lovely Summerhouse, but I hadn't mentioned that we have had a lot of problems with the timber since it was first bought almost five years ago. Knots were falling out and leaving gaps, shrinkage in the timber that left gaps you could see daylight through and generally leaks in various places. The local company that we bought it from initially sent someone out a few times to put sealer in places to stop the leaks, but it never really did the trick, so we fell out of love with our Summerhouse and hardly used it anymore.

So this year we decided to re-clad the bad bits ourselves and then paint it outside and inside to give it a complete makeover. The trouble was we couldn't get the same tongue and groove cladding that matched the original wood. we tried everywhere locally.

So in desperation we bought something similar but it left us with a 2 inch gap at the top of the back of the Summerhouse, as the overlap wasn't the same as the original. So we came to a halt in our makeover. I then decided to contact the Summerhouse manufacturer (Shires) direct and was given a contact to e-mail called Maggie. I had a lovely reply and an offer of replacement timber ! I can't tell you how amazed we were. After all this time of putting up with the problems I realise that I should have contacted Shires in the first place. Why on earth didn't I do that ?????

The timber arrived this morning YEAH ! so we can now finish the job. Thanks to Shires generous after sales customer service and the very helpful Maggie . Isn't it great to know that some companies do care about their customers satisfaction and their Company reputation. So a big big thank you to Shire Garden Buildings.

And here is a photo of the Summerhouse not finished yet, but now we have the wood it will be watertight and I can paint the inside cream and finish painting the back and the side. We look forward to using it all summer again.

Southampton Indian 'Mela' festival

2011-07-18T02:30:00.001+01:00

We went to the Mela on Saturday and had a great time. It was colourful, loud, the food smelt and tasted delicious and the Indian Bollywood music playing on the main stage was great. There was lot's of handsome young Indian men showing off with their dancing and generally having fun.

The nicest part about the Mela is that it is always a big melting pot of cultures and peoples, all enjoying the festival. Having missed the festival last year we noticed that it had changed and not for the better either. There were lot's of fairground rides, shooting galleries, ghost train, and other tacky things that made it seem more like a British fairground rather than the traditional Indian festival that it has been in the past. Also missing was the more traditional Indian musicians. However it was still a pleasant experience and plenty of portaloos this time which was an improvement. I hope they get comments about the lack of tradition and get it back for next year. We had Lamb Biriyani for lunch which was superb.

I hope you enjoy these photo's.

The Main Stage

Fabulous colourful clothes

Colourful headscarves

Henna Tattooist

Traditional Indian fabric detail

Traditional Dancers and band

Colourful festival goers

A music workshop

These are photo's from a previous year just to show the traditional musicians that were lacking this year.

My first Globe Artichokes

2011-07-12T02:02:00.000+01:00

I hadn't been to the allotment since last Thursday and there wasn't a sign of an artichoke then, so today I was excited and amazed to find lot's of little artichokes popping up on the plants that only got sown and grown this year. I can't wait to cut them and cook them.

Aren't they amazing plants ? I love them and need to find a recipe to pickle the hearts in oil and herbs.

I also have lot's of fruits on the cape gooseberry.

And the chillies are doing well.

Lots more potatoes and garlic

Runner beans are forming and there seems to be two different varieties, so I must have sown the ones with the white flower by mistake. I've no idea what they are.

French beans are forming as well. I have 'Fasold' and 'Blue Lake' and another mistake that's got sown which I think a neighbour gave me seeds from her dark bean crop last year. They look beautiful I can't wait to try them.

There are loads of flowers and still more to come such as the 'Astor's' the bees and hover-flies are loving the plot at the moment and the Cosmos and Lavender are a favourite.

The 'Echinacea' grown from seed last year are doing exceptionally well. So all in all the visit today was really worthwhile as it's all looking productive and pretty.

Broad Beans and Jam

2011-07-05T21:35:00.001+01:00

I have spent most of the day in the kitchen making jam and freezing broad beans. It takes so long to pod the beans, blanch them briefly then prepare them for freezing, but it had to be done as I didn't want them going soft and having to compost them. I shouldn't have harvested them on Sunday as I knew I didn't have time until today to freeze them. But they were fine.

The Beans podded and before blanching, some were kept back for dinner this evening and were delicious, especially the red ones. Green beans are 'Bunyards Exhibition' Red beans are 'Red Epicure'
.

I harvested a huge basket of beans but the amount of beans you get after podding doesn't look much, but then there's a huge pile of pods for the compost bin, so it all goes back into the earth again to enrich the soil for next year.

I had harvested most of my green gooseberries as they were trailing on the ground and going a bit soft. I gave some away, but had so many left over I decided to try and make some gooseberry jam. It turned out very good and had a great set. I also had loads of red gooseberries and wasn't sure what to do with them all. I had frozen strawberries in the freezer from last year, so after looking through my preserve book I decided to make Strawberry and Gooseberry jam. It's such a lovely combination and the colour is lovely.

I made three and a half jars of the gooseberry and five jars of strawberry and gooseberry. A good days work I think, now for a glass of wine !!!

I've grown too much AGAIN !!!!

2011-06-29T21:58:00.000+01:00

Last year I vowed not to grow excess amounts of veg on the plot this year, but I'm not sure how it happened but I have done it again. Although it's lovely to share with the neighbours (which I did today !) but it all takes time to look after such vast amounts of plants. Trouble is I can't bring myself to compost healthy plants so even though I give away lot's of plants every year, I still have way too many.

I had a good harvest today and It's scary to know that although my fridge is full there will be more to harvest on my next visit. Next year I have to get it right !! how do you manage to just grow enough ? or do you also do as I do and grow too much ?

Here is some photo's taken on the plot today, it's all looking very lush. I dug up some garlic from the second bed and this variety 'Cristo' is huge, it fit's into the palm of my hand.

The Globe Artichokes are enormous and growing like crazy.

The onions are growing well, they looked like blades of grass when I put them in as I grew them from seed.

I have lots of self seeded Sunflowers and Calendulas, all brightening up the plot

The pumpkin and squashes are in

The Spinach has been amazing, but is slowly going to seed now so I have sown some more today.

The Runner beans and French beans have now reached the top of the wigwams and are all in flower.

The Tayberry has quite a few fruits now and I have been eating some for a couple of days.

The gooseberries have loads of fruit, the green ones are huge and the red ones are just turning from green to red and are delicious.

I am growing Cape Gooseberries in the greenhouse and this one is really getting big now and has quite a few fruits forming

And finally here is the Broad beans, Mangetout, and Calabrese that I harvest today. I haven't grown calabrese before and I am so pleased with it as the heads have grown so big over the last week, I will definitely grow it every year.

It's been an amazing year so far, and there is so much more to come. All the potatoes are dug up now as I only grew first earlies. I will post the results on the varieties soon, as they were unusual and I haven't grown them before.

What a Harvest !!

2011-06-23T17:02:00.000+01:00

A visit to the allotment between showers on Tuesday paid off as there was a bumper harvest ready for the picking.
An amazing amount of strawberries, a huge bag of spinach, I get a bag like this every other day! I had my first picking of broad beans, but they are still small as I prefer them small if they are going in a salad. Then there was a few tasty Tayberries which were also the first, but there are quite a few more to ripen so not too bad for the first year. The blackcurrants were kindly given by my friend as mine all got eaten by the birds whilst still green. They stripped the whole bush in a couple of days before I had time to net it. needless to say LESSON LEARNT !!!

I have enough Lavender bushes now to harvest lot's to dry in the airing cupboard in a pillowcase. I will use it to fill the fabric hearts that I make. I didn't take too much yet as they look and smell so lovely on the plot.

I made Strawberry Jam which I haven't done for ages. I made 9 jars and they were large jars as well !! it took ages to get to setting point. I doubled up on the recipe, which doesn't always work for me, but the thought of washing the preserving pan and doing it all again put me off, so I doubled up and as I said it took forever to get to the correct set. I was still a bit unsure of how well it had set even when it had turned cold. However we had some for breakfast and it was perfect !!!! and my daughter-in-law loved it. PHEW !! so glad I didn't have to start again. I make a lot of curd's which is so easy, but Jam is harder to set I find.

We have been away from home for a couple of days, so I'm sure there will be lot's more to harvest when I next visit the plot which weather permitting will be tomorrow.

I'm growing a 'Cape Gooseberry' in the greenhouse, well three actually. It's the first time I have grown them and I already have little fruits forming on my largest one, which I must re-pot as it has outgrown the pot it's in.
The harvest I'm most looking forward to is the Courgettes and the mangetout. I have flowers on the courgettes and just a few pods growing on the mangetout at the moment, so I will have to be patient.

I hope you are all getting some good harvest's.
M x

Book Review - ' How to make your own Drinks'

2011-06-17T10:45:00.000+01:00

I have been sent a lovely book to review and thought I would share my thoughts about it.
It's called 'How to make your own Drinks' and is written by Susy Atkins. For most of us that grow our own fruit it's a very handy book as it's a good way to use up a glut of fruit, other than making jam.

To be honest I probably wouldn't have looked for a book on the subject or even considered buying one, as apart from trying to make some wine from a kit years ago (not successfully to be honest !) I haven't really had a hankering to make my own. BUT being honest again ! i have to say that this book is not only good to look at it's also inspiring and really makes me want to have a go.

It's a beautifully laid out book with clear instructions, and the photography is excellent. As part of the introduction says - I quote :-
This is a straightforward, no-nonsense introduction to drinks-making at home. Most of your core ingredients are out in the fields, hedgerows and gardens, there for the taking. Let's get started. (Which I agree with.)

The nice thing about it is there are drinks for all occasions, including fruit cordials, champagne, beers, and even spiced tea's such as Mint tea, Lemon Verbena Tea, Lemon Balm tea Fennel tea and many more, even Lavender lemonade ! oh and even fruit syrups to add to puddings and ice cream.

Here are a few photo's from the book just to give you an idea on the book. If you are into making your own drinks or want to have a go this is an excellent book, and if like me you are a sucker for beautiful books it's a lovely one to have and look through.

If you get a chance to look at a copy I really do recommend it.

Truly Allotment Heaven today

2011-06-07T23:48:00.000+01:00

I feel very fortunate to have my allotment plot ! I read about long waiting lists and that in some areas especially in London that it can take between ten to fifteen years to get a plot, so yes looking around my plot today seeing all the lovely veggies and flowers growing I really appreciated my 'Allotment Heaven'.

I worked from 1.30 pm until 4.50pm weeding mainly, as the rain seems to make the weeds prolific and the onion bed took some backbreaking work to weed. I dug up 3 plants of my early potatoes ' Ulster Prince' and took them straight home, shared some with my lovely neighbours and cooked a few for our supper and they were delicious. We don't eat many potatoes so I have only planted first and second Earlie's this year.

I have dug up my first bed of Garlic 'Cristo' which this year thank goodness didn't get rust. It is a great crop and I think once again I have gone a bit overboard as I have a slightly larger crop to come up yet of a French variety.

The Globe artichoke bed looks brilliant and has a little squash in between Globes and lots of Asters I can't wait for them to flower as it's the first time I have grown these flowers

The Spinach (three different varieties) is amazing and I am picking a large bag every other day and also giving the neighbours some. I intend to keep sowing so that I have enough until the winter months as we love it.

The Tayberry has fruit and I can't wait for it to fully ripen and pick my first berry, Yum !

The cucumbers in the greenhouse have tiny fruits YEAH ! we love home grown cucumbers and the tomatoes are full of flowers, and I have loads of lettuces and peppers coming on in the greenhouse. So all our own salad stuff sorted !

And here are a few photo's taken around the plot today. Lot's of flowers and bees buzzing, truly Allotment Heaven.

What more can one ask of life ?

Almost forgot to mention that I have been sent a lovely book to review which I will post about over the next few days. I think most of you with fruit growing on your plots will like this book, it's all about making cordials, wines, beers, soft summer drinks and more from fruit we grow, buy or forage.

Have a lovely week.

M x

DIY satisfaction and my great bargain from the local Tip

2011-05-30T20:57:00.001+01:00

I have had such a busy couple of weeks what with clearing a corner of the garden which resulted in many trips with a car full of garden rubbish to the local tip. It must have been fate because on one of the days at the tip I spotted a sideboard that looked rather 'vintage ' to me and it was marked up at £10 !!! the hubby took one look and said NO, but undeterred I insisted it would be perfect for the hall (fantastic storage) and it would look amazing perhaps painted cream and distressed (which was what the hubby was at the time !! ha ha)

So we went home got some cash and went back for my 'Treasure' inside one of the drawers was a brass button that said 'Lebus' furniture and in the middle of the button the initials H.L. We got it home and it fitted the hall, what luck !! as we stupidly in my excitement forgot to measure the space. I looked up Lebus furniture on line and sure enough the company started in London in 1900 and closed down in 1969 the HL stands for Harris Lebus, see the link below.
http://www.ferrylane.org.uk/?page_id=41
I haven't found out the date of my sideboard YET, but at a guess it's late 1950's to early 60's so definitely vintage.
I sanded the doors which someone had varnished dark and oddly (but luckily) they had left the carcass and drawers the original colour. It took me almost 3 hours to sand 2 doors and I am so thrilled with the result that I have decided not to paint the whole unit, but just the top looks good painted lightly and then rubbed off. Here is a photo of the after I wish I had taken one of before. I did take one on my phone but not with the camera, shame !

It's a quirky design as it looks like it has six little drawers but it is only two long ones. The door fronts are veneered so they look like four doors in the photo, but it's the inlay of a lighter wood in the veneering.
I still have work to do on it as it's far from finished, but I really love it and can't believe my luck.

My second DIY project was to paint my summerhouse which I stained in Red cedar when we first bought it. I hated it as soon as I had done it and almost five years later have decided to get on and do it in a 'Natural Stone' Cuprinol garden shades colour which looks more in keeping with the 'Seaside' theme inside and makes it stand out more in the garden instead of blending in with the fence behind it. Again work still in progress as I haven't finished the horrid little window pains on the bow window and the little windows on the french doors need another coat of paint.

Before in Red Cedar

After (well almost) in Natural Stone. It's a kind of putty colour and changes in the different lights

I do have lot's to post about the allotment but I will leave that for next time as by then I will have some photo's. The broad beans should be ready to harvest in a few weeks, the globe artichokes are growing well, the asparagus seems to have taken this time around and they have the dreaded beetle, but I didn't panic this time I just knock them off into a container every time I go up to the plot and them kill them ( I know I am a terrible person!) and the eggs are like hairs down the stem, so when I can spot them I squash them too.

I hope to catch up on my blog reading this week to see what you have all been up to. Have a lovely week.

M x

The biggest pile of POO ever

2011-05-11T18:17:00.000+01:00

For the last two days a friend and myself have been digging into this very large pile of Horse POO at a riding stables in a nearby village. We have filled about 20 bags and maybe a bit more since yesterday, and we haven't even made a dent in the pile !!! It's well rotted and doesn't smell, so that's a relief !!!

Frances has the first dig

Then it was my turn

I can't believe that a pile of POO made me happy, and especially that it was FREE ! I don't know what that is above my head but I promise I am not wearing a Tiara !!

We look like 'Thelma and Louise' of the POO pile !!! ha ha

Job done and Frances car is all loaded up

We think this is enough for the time being. I don't know how but we were still smiling , we had a good laugh whilst filling the bags, good job we are both fit as it's hard work !!!

We still managed to get back and unload it all at the allotment, and after a quick stop for a drink and a snack we were both busy on our respective plots. I planted my dahlias that were potted up, planted out two tomatoes, and two courgettes, one yellow and one green. I still have lot's of things to come out the greenhouse that need planting, and have to pot on my 'Cape Gooseberry' as it's growing like mad and really needs a bigger pot as do lot's of chillies, peppers and tomatoes that are staying in the greenhouse.
As usual I am all gardened out !!!!

New Asparagus plants and an allotment update

2011-05-04T22:35:00.002+01:00

My asparagus plants which I planted last year weren't a great success, only three out of ten survived. I don't know why as I planted them all the same, in the same way and the same depth, and the three survivors look very healthy. Anyway today I received ten new very healthy replacement plants kindly sent by Stephen and Serena at Victoriana Nursery. Here they are all planted up looking small at the moment, but I have a good feeling about these, some are planted in another row just out of view.

Thanks to Stephen and Serena for replacing them !!

I harvested the last of the Purple Sprouting Broccoli at the week-end. Out of six plants which had all grown very tall and looked healthy until our severe winter, only three survived and only one of those gave any decent pickings. It really wasn't worth waiting any more for the measly pickings left as I needed the bed to get my canes up ready for the runner and french beans.

So the bed is ready for the beans which are growing like 'Jack's Beanstalk' in the greenhouse and need to go in. I will probably get them in next week, surely we wont get any more frosts after next week ????

The Greenhouse is productive !

The Tayberry is doing amazingly well and has had loads of flowers, so hopefully lot's of fruit this summer.

There are so many flowers on the strawberries, and not just on my plot. Everyone else's plots seems to be having a successful year with the strawberries too.

Rhubarb has been amazing this year. It's the third year now so all the different varieties (which I forgotten the names as the tags are now lost !) are at the right stage of maturity for a full picking. YUM !!!

The gooseberries are full of fruit, but I am a little concerned about the colour of the green gooseberry fruit as it looks like it's tinged a bit pink !! and NO this isn't the red gooseberry which is green at the moment, but does turn red later on. The labels are still on the bushes from when I first planted them, so I know I haven't mixed them up (as the hubby suggested) so it's a bit of a concern in case there is something wrong with the green one (any Ideas anyone ????) I just clicked to enlarge this photo and the fruit looks a bit spikey doen't it ? I must go back and check this out tomorrow.

The green gooseberry (honest)

The red gooseberry (it goes red later on) below. I checked the original tags still intact and it really is the red variety

And finally, broad beans (doing very well) and red veined spinach, I love this variety and have also grown the larger leaved green one and a baby leaved variety as well ( Look out Popeye !!!!)

I almost forgot the Blackcurrant ! also full of fruit waiting to grow and ripen, it's going to be a great year for fruit. The late fruiting raspberries are growing like mad after being cut right back.

Such a long post ! isn't it nice when everything starts looking fruitful ?
M x

Thinking of buying a new shed ? Here is some sound advice on choosing one.

2011-04-27T21:36:00.001+01:00

A simple guide to choosing a garden shed

When it comes time to buy a new garden shed for your home or allotment , the first thing you’ll want to decide on is the size of shed that you’re after. While it’s not good to end up with a structure that will totally dominate your garden and overpower other areas, you should try and go for the biggest shed you can reasonably accommodate. That way, not only will you have a large amount of storage space – you’ll also have plenty of room to get in there and look around when you decide to retrieve an item or two.

Once you’ve decided on the size, the next factor to think about is the material you’d like your shed to be built from. While traditional wooden sheds are still popular, there are also a growing number of other options on the market that may well suit your needs better. If you do go for a wooden shed then you’ll generally have a choice between overlap timber, which is rough to the touch and built up with each slat overlapping the next, or shiplap timber, which connects using an interlocking tongue and groove joint and gives a smoother finish.

Wooden sheds will need to be maintained and re-treated with external wood preserver every year, so take that into account before you make a final decision on your purchase. If you’d prefer something that won’t need maintenance, then a metal shed might be more suitable for your needs. Most often made from galvanised steel, metal sheds are rot and rodent proof as well as being non-combustible, which obviously can’t be said for wooden sheds. Many metal sheds are also available with a 10-year manufacturer’s guarantee, which will give you peace of mind going forward.

Another maintenance-free option is a plastic shed – and while the thought of a plastic structure might not sound as aesthetically pleasing as a traditional wooden shed, there are some surprisingly nice looking plastic options out there. A further benefit of plastic sheds is that they tend to be easier than their metal and wooden counterparts to put together – most sheds come flat packed and require self assembly.

As long as you think about the overall look of your garden and buy your shed to fit with its surroundings then you won’t go far wrong. Also have a think about whether you’re prepared to maintain your shed in future years and how handy you are when it comes to DIY before rushing into a decision. It may be worth paying a little more than you were expecting to if it means you’ll be truly happy with your purchase rather than just going with the cheapest option available and living with something you’re not particularly fond of.

Vine Weevils Oh how I hate those pesky pests !!!!!!

2011-04-26T23:11:00.000+01:00

I had noticed that some plants that I have in pots were looking a bit lifeless and not seeming to be growing well. So I investigated as I thought that it could be the dreaded Vine Weevils, and sure enough a poke into the soil revealed the little horrors. I hate those weevils and the adult beetle more than any other garden pests. They do so much damage.

Just look at those horrid little grubs GRRRRRRR !!!! I was not going to let them beat me so I dug out the infected plants (including a couple of strawberries) and washed them off right down to the roots and potted them on the next day after leaving them to soak in a container of water (to drown any weevils I'd missed) and they all seem to be recovering. I bagged the soil from the effected pots and took it to the local tip. Then washed the pots out with jeyes fluid. I know you can now buy stuff to killl the weevils, but it's expensive, so my way is cheaper and seems to work. I have only seen a few adult beetles this year so far, so I'm hoping that there wont be too many around. How do you deal with this pest ??? I would love to know!

Five and a half hours working on the plot

2011-04-20T01:13:00.001+01:00

It was so hot today wasn't it ? too hot in fact to work on the allotment, but I needed to get on and get cracking if all the jobs were to be done. I had some help though as the hubby decided to give me a hand with preparing the bed for the Globe Artichokes. I had twelve to plant in total, six from Victoriana nursery and six I had grown from seed. Stephen's leaflet that accompanied the plants when they arrived recommended 3ft apart but that was pushing my allotted space a bit, so they were planted a little under the 3ft, but they seem to have ample room.

They are all in now and look good. I only wish I had a better look at the artichoke bed at RHS Wisley last year, that way I would know how big they are going to look. I know they get to 6ft but I'm not sure just how bushy they grow. Here's a photo of the finished bed. We had to scout around for some old concrete walling to bank the bed up. My plot is on a slope so to even it out we put the walling blocks in and then evened the soil against them. It then drops down a little to the two rows of asparagus, so all the permanent plants are in one area now. I am very pleased with my box hedge that runs along my boundary. I got them from Free-cycle last year as someone was digging up their hedge along their front garden. I didn't think they would re-plant as they had been dug up and left for a week or so before we collected them, but they have taken well.

This photo is looking down the artichoke bed and as you can see in the foreground I have planted lot's of cutting that I grew of Box taken from one I had in the garden at home. They will take ages to get to the size of the others, but they are growing and looking healthy.

This is a photo of the fruit area. The raspberries are just growing up through lots of lovely manure. I cut them right back as they are autumn fruiting. The strawberries are in the little raised bed and there is a red gooseberry, a green gooseberry, about four different varieties of rhubarb, a blackcurrant and the newly planted Tayberry. oh and two little twigs ! that are blackberries given to me by a friend which have taken and are just showing good healthy signs of growth.
PS. that scruffy looking plot that looks like 'Steptoe's' yard is a neighbouring plot on the other side of a shared path !!! just in case you clicked to enlarge the photo and think it's mine !!! ha ha

I have some lovely tulips growing just outside the greenhouse which are beautiful shades of deep pink and a lovely green. The wallflowers didn't do so well this year on the plot, but the ones at home did ! I can't wait to get all my cosmos, dahlias, marigold, zinnia's and cornflowers in the flower beds. I love to have lot's of flowers on the plot to look cheery and for cutting and of course for the bees.

Whilst preparing the bed today I found dozens of Borage plants growing, all self seeded, so I saved a half dozen to dot around the place and had to compost the rest. I also found lot's of the lovely sunflower plant-lets from the multi-headed sunflower from last year I think it was called Royal Velvet,or Velvet queen ?? something like that. It had lots of small heads in bronze, red, gold and russet colours and it isn't to tall either.

Globe Artichokes

2011-04-18T08:17:00.003+01:00

I have just received my Globe Artichokes from Stephen at Victoriana Nursery . I am very excited about growing this vegetable as I only discovered that I liked globe artichokes last year when I had some that my daughter-in-law gave me, granted they were bought from the supermarket already prepared and in a jar, but they were delicious and then I had them in London as a starter in a Tapas bar. That's when I decided that I would like to grow some of my own. I would however recommend that anyone wanting to grow them buys a fresh one from the supermarket and tries them first as they can be difficult to cook and there are different ways to eat them. The French like to boil or steam the whole head and them pull of the leaves and dip them in garlic butter and then you scrape the flesh from the leaves with your teeth. Very tasty but I found it messy, so I will be finding recipes to use the hearts I think as they are yummy. In fact here some links I found that might be useful if you are considering growing these delicious and architectural plants.
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/videos/1000/preparing-globe-artichokes
http://www.ehow.co.uk/cook-artichokes/

Here is a YouTube link to Stephen talking about his vegetable plants: In fact if you also click the link above there is another video and lot's of good monthly advice to be had.
http://www.youtube.com/user/VictorianaNursery

I already had a packet of the variety 'Green globe' seeds, but wasn't sure if I would be successful in growing them myself from seed so I ordered some plants from Victoriana nursery just in case ! Stephen sent me six plants ready to go out on the plot, but as the bed isn't ready yet I decided to pot them up and try and get them in next week. There are three each of 'Romanesco' and 'Imperial Star' both of which are highly recommended by Stephen. I am pleased to say that my 'Green Globe' seeds germinated very well and I have some very sturdy plants which I am giving to a friend and keeping a few for myself to go with the other two varieties. I found that all the bother of sowing and caring for them wasn't really worth the effort though as the plants from Stephen arrived safely packaged and ready to go in the ground and the price of his plants are so reasonable, and the size of the plants I grew took up so much space in the greenhouse.

My Green Globe

'Romanesco' and 'Imperial Star' which will be putting on a big growth spurt anytime soon, as the root system is so healthy .

...................................................................................................

Now for a natter about SWEETPEAS

I don't know if you like me have always grown your sweet peas in seperate modules ? well I always believed that this was the best way to grow them. BUT I find it time consuming, space taking and ALL those Toilet roll innards drive me mad !!! so having bought pots of them growing all together in one pot from the garden centre last year and I have to say that I didn't think that disturbing the little plants would work. Well it did, and I carefully tapped them out of the pot separated them and popped them in the ground and I found them as sturdy as any that I had grown and mollycoddled separately in loo rolls . So this year I have done as the garden centres and grown mine in pots all together and they have transplanted very well in the ground and are growing nicely. I have now got lot's more growing in this way ready to go up to the lottie.

Finally to end this post here are a few photo's that I took this morning of a lovely creamy white pansy and a cheeky robin on the fence watching me and a pot of lovely spring primroses called 'Firecracker' in the foreground and 'Castillion' (at the back). I love the colours of these and I think I will divided them and get more plants for next year.

Where is the month going ?? just two more weeks and we will be into MAY !
Have a lovely week everyone and let's hope the sun shines and has it's 'Hat On' hip hip hip hurray !!

I'm sorry for the delay. We now have a winner for the David Austin Book giveaway.

2011-04-15T19:35:00.000+01:00

I am so sorry for not doing the draw for the giveaway on Tuesday 12th as planned, but I have had a hectic week . So here are the photo's of the draw with my friend Frances doing the honours of pulling a name out of the hat !!!

Only five entries, which was a shame really as it's a beautiful book and worth £30. So maybe not so many Rose enthusiasts among my readers.

Frances getting ready to take out a name.

(Thanks for your help Frances !)

And here we have the winner

CONGRATULATIONS TO VEGETABLE HEAVEN

If you let me have your address via my e-mail I will get the book posted off to you.

Have a great weekend everyone
M x

A busy time at the allotment

2011-04-08T18:30:00.002+01:00

I've worked at the allotment for two days this week, and enjoyed every minute of it. The sun was shining, and I met with a good friend up there who also has a plot and we sat in the sunshine outside her shed (Oh the good life !!) and chatted and had a drink break, TRULY Allotment Heaven !!!

The Broad beans are doing well, but still covered for the moment as they were raised in the mini greenhouse and not planted direct. I had hardened them off for a couple of weeks, but a severe frost could still knock them back. I dug up a row of parsnips 'Hollow Crown' the seeds were from Victoriana Nursery and they are so nice that I got the same again for this years planting.

I still have this row of parsnips to dig up a bit later on. I will probably have to blanch and freeze them as I will need that bed soon.

The Tayberry is doing well and looks like the fruit is starting to come which is exciting as this is the first year, although it was a good healthy potted specimen and a good size to boot. again from Victoriana Nursery.

There are so many ladybirds about on the allotment, so hopefully they and their young will keep the aphids down, it's wonderful to see so many.

My plot is beginning to look more alive and lovely and green again. I have Calabraise, cabbages growing, and purple Sprouting broccoli I actually got my first harvest from it last evening (at last) it's in for such a long time. I lost three plants out of the six I planted, but the remaining three don't look too bad. I am hoping to harvest for a couple of weeks to make up for the long wait.

I did manage to sow some carrots as well. I sowed two rows each of Early Nantes 2 and Nantes 5, not sure what the difference is ! we shall see ! Oh and the potatoes went in at last too, all earlies. I don't grow main crop any more as we don't eat that many potatoes, so its just for the fun of digging some up for salads really.
SO lot's done and heaps more to do. I have a mixture of traditional veg beds and also raised beds on my plot and I must say the raised beds are so easy to dig over as the soil is lovely in them. But all beds are full of lovely fat worms this year more so than any other year. It must be the good manure I put on in the autumn.

Have a lovely weekend and don't forget to leave your comment on the post for the giveaway David Austin Roses book if you would like a chance to win it.

Book Giveaway - 5 more days to add your name for a chance to win

2011-04-07T11:47:00.000+01:00

I am surprised that there are only a few names to choose from for this stunning book. It's up for grabs and absolutely free to the name drawn out of the hat, which is planned for 12th April.

http://mylottieheaven.blogspot.com/2011/03/another-book-review-and-this-one-is.html

If having to name a favourite Rose is stopping you well then just leave a comment that you want to go into the draw. But please put a link on your blog to the giveaway.

I hope your day is as sunny and gorgeous as it is here.

M x

Gardeners little Luxuries

2011-04-03T21:09:00.001+01:00

A friend of mine has been very impressed with some organic soaps and hand /body cream that she has been using. The fragrance she likes is called Gin and Tonic !! which suits her well as it's her favourite tipple. Anyway I thought I would check it out and try some myself.

My goodies arrived beautifully packages in a nice sturdy white box and laid gently in straw.( well shredded white paper straw)

There was a gardeners soap and Tree-Mend-Us hand and body cream

The fragrance is lovely and the soap is highly exfoliating and contains nettle, comfrey, powdered pumice,shredded loofah and poppy seeds to scrub away the dirt from us gardeners hard working hands. Made with Olive oil to soften the skin and fragranced with organic Lavender, Organic Lemongrass and Tea Tree essential oil known to be antibacterial and antiseptic. Just to give you an idea how natural the contents are.

And some adorable bath bombs in the shape of 'Smelly Wellies'

I am so impressed with these products and can't wait for a chance to try the 'Hippy Rose' fragrance (that name is so me!)
The cream by the way is gentle enough to even use on the face, and are apparently used by many with very dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and skin conditions, so they are very gentle and pure.
If you fancy treating yourself or someone you love take a look at the website.
Here is the link to The Littlecote Soap Co. www.littlecotesoap.co.uk
The products are also sold at selected National Trust shops and many other gift shops around the UK.

The Beans are in AT LAST !!!

2011-04-01T23:32:00.002+01:00

I finally got my broad beans in. The roots were long and thick and sticking out of the bottom of the root trainers. The bed was already manured and prepared, so it just meant working out the spacing and length of rows.
Here they are :

on the left are Bunyards Exhibition and on the right Red Epicure, I've not grown the red ones before and it says on the packet that lightly steamed they keep their colour, and as I always steam my veg we will see if that's true when the time come.

The first Asparagus spear is up , that's exciting as I have been looking for it on every visit. I'm not sure how many are going to make it but fingers crossed a lot more than this one.

Even more exciting is the new Tayberry bush, it's growing so well and looks really healthy. The Tayberry and the Asparagus were both from Victoriana Nursery .

I've managed to clean the greenhouse at the allotment with good old Jeyes fluid, it pongs a bit but does a good job. I haven't actually moved anything up there yet as it's all still in the mini-greenhouses in my garden (much easier to look after until all frosts are gone) There is still heaps more to do and lot's to sow, but I am holding back as things like cucumber, courgettes, french beans and mangetout all come on very quickly and then I will run out of greenhouse space. I hope to sow a lot of things direct this year, thats the plan anyway !

Friday again !!!! have a lovely weekend everyone and please don't forget to leave a comment for the giveaway book by David Austin (Roses) see previous post.

Another book review and this one is a GIVEAWAY PRIZE

2011-03-31T23:30:00.005+01:00

I received another gorgeous book to review on Monday, I wasn't expecting this one and it's all about Roses.
David Austin Roses to be precise 'English Roses'.
It's a newly published book again by Conran octopus and in fact the information sheet I received says it's due out on 7th April 2011, so it may not be available to buy until then ( I haven't checked)
It's called 'The English Roses' By David Austin, and as it says on the inside of the sleeve - I quote :-

With photographs of superb rose gardens and advice on growing and maintaining his roses, David Austin's 'The English Roses' is an essential reference for every rose lover and gardener.

Having looked through this beautiful book with it's stunning photographs I heartily agree with the quote.
It's a large coffee table book, it's worth £30 publishers price and it's going to be my giveaway to one lucky person out there. As much as I would like to keep it, I don't grow roses even though I love them. So I would like to share my good fortune of receiving the book with someone who does grow and love roses.
I have never done a giveaway before but have seen them on others blogs and actually won a voucher to spend at 'Lands End' from Damo's blog, so I know how it feels to win.
I will keep the giveaway open from March 31st until 12th April and then I will get a friend to pull a name out of the hat.

To enter for a chance to win this great book, just leave a comment telling me your favourite English Rose and with a link so you can be contacted. and then post a mention on your blog about this giveaway and add this link http://mylottieheaven.blogspot.com/2011/03/another-book-review-and-this-one-is.html

I am sorry to say that I can only post to the UK as I went to the post office this morning to get it weighed (it's a heavy book) and it's quite a lot just to post in the UK, so I really can't send it overseas. SORRY !

PLEASE let others know about the giveaway.

A lovely day out

2011-03-29T22:18:00.000+01:00

I still haven't put those broad beans in their prepared bed at the allotment ! yesterday was spent weeding the garden at home and generally tidying up and moving a few plants around.

Today we fancied a break from gardening and the allotment, so we took ourselves off for the day the sky was blue when we started off just after lunch

We saw lots of daffodils

Camellias

Magnolias

And the world was a beautiful place to be.

By the time we got home though it had started to rain and judging by the puddles in our garden we had had quite a downpour whilst we were out. Ah well ! we had a lovely day, tomorrow perhaps the broad beans will get planted !

100 Followers YAY !!

I can remember the day I got my first follower, I was amazed and delighted and now today the total reached 100 ! amazing ! So very soon I am going to do a giveaway to celebrate the 100 mark. Watch this space as I think you will like it.

Book review - Dan Pearson

2011-03-29T01:00:00.001+01:00

I feel very fortunate to have been asked if I would do a book review on Dan Pearson's new book
HOME GROUND : Sanctuary in the City. Published 21st March 2011 by Conran Octopus

I received my copy on Saturday and it's such a beautiful book. The cover is dreamy and it has a nice feel about it, I couldn't wait to open it and see what it was like. I wasn't disappointed ! the photography (by Howard Sooley) is superb and it follows Dan for a year whilst he transforms his garden in Peckham, South East London, from an overgrown, bramble covered plot into his own Oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of London.

Dan's book isn't the usual gardening book in that it doesn't tell you how to garden, but leads you through the year in a series of diary like entries which are arranged in seasons. Much can be learned from this book and it certainly gives inspiration and ideas for planting and choosing plants.

It's worth shopping around if you consider buying the book as prices vary. I think it's worth buying and it's such a pleasure to look through. It's also the kind of book that you can dip into to read and it looks good on the coffee table. Below is a YouTube link that takes you to a short video with Dan Pearson talking about his book. It's really worth watching as his garden is lovely.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQMjbchDRHk

Catching up on the Plot

2011-03-25T22:29:00.001Z

I have been busy on the allotment since last week as I'm sure most of you have too what with this amazing weather we have been having ( well it has been here in Hampshire anyway !) I actually spent from 11.30 am to 4.55 pm on Tuesday up there digging and shifting manure by the barrow loads, and I have finally got the bed ready for the broad beans to go in over the week-end or early next week. See how they have grown it's amazing how sturdy they are and the roots are coming out the bottom of the root trainers.

As they were from a few weeks ago

And here they are today

The bed is all ready and when I get them in I will cover them until all frosts have gone, even though they have been hardened off each day for a couple of weeks . You can see the bed where I added lots of manure. The plot is looking bare now but I have so many seeds on the go that it should look very good in a couple of months. I also planted spinach on Tuesday, so that should be up as it takes no time at all to appear.

The potatoes are chitting and I will also get them in next week as they are first earlies, so maybe should have been in by now. We don't eat a lot of potatoes, so I don't grow that many now.

My garden is looking pretty and there are lots of lovely spring flowers about the place. The Hyacinths are fantastic and fill the air with the most amazing scent, especially in the evening. They are just outside the kitchen door and placed near a seating area so we get a whiff of them every so often, I must grow more next year. They seem a popular cut flower too, even Tesco has started selling them in their flower section, but at £5 a small bunch it's got to be cheaper to grow a bed of them to cut on the allotment.

The heather behind the Buddha is looking great I love the colour, it's a welcome sight and it's been flowering for ages. I am so glad I didn't pull up the Rudbeckia plants that i grew from seed last year, I thought they were dead but I spotted this one sending up a new shoot this morning.

I hope you all have a great week-end and that you get done all you need to do in the garden or on the allotment.

CSN Stores UK - Review

2011-03-20T19:37:00.002Z

I have received the items I chose to review from CSN Stores UK and now I will give you my honest opinion of their online shopping experience.

First of all I would like to say that from ordering to delivery was a couple of days. I ordered on the 16th of March and had both of my goods delivered by the 18th March, so very speedy and ordering online was easy and they take all manner of credit/debit cards and even PayPal, so very straight forward.

CSN state that they are the cheapest online, so I shopped around and sure enough they were for the items I chose, even cheaper than Amazon and John Lewis.

Here are the two Items I chose:

A beautiful 'Raymond Blanc' by Anolon, top range, saute pan and it's just beautiful and so lovely to use.

The second item I chose is a French ' Emile Henry' Pie dish. I have always meant to buy a proper pie dish and this one is so lovely and will be well used.

I did look at all the Saucepan Sets in the store, but decided on the saute pan as it's something I probably wouldn't have bought for myself if I wasn't doing the Review for CSN, so a big thank you to them.

My honest opinion then is that I would shop with them again and would definitely recommend them to family and friends. They have a vast amount of goods ranging from an egg whisk to large items of furniture not all cheap, but definately competitive on prices and lot's of unusual things.

Sad and Happy ! is that possible ?

2011-03-16T18:45:00.000Z

I just felt that I needed to post and say how sad I feel with all that is happening recently in the world, and especially in Japan. My younger son came back from Japan just a couple of weeks ago where he and his friends spent two weeks skiing and had a wonderful time, he loved it there. I feel so happy that he returned before this disaster and is safe. The dreadful pictures in the paper and on the news each day make me count my blessings and thank God for all the simple pleasures that I have in my life. As I sow my seeds and watch them grow it makes me realise that nature cannot be controlled even if we think it can be. I'm sure everyone feels this sadness too and it's dreadful that we are all unable to help in a big way, but I'm sure all our pennies count. It's a dreadful time for the people of Japan and I'ts going to be a very long time before they get the country back on it's feet again, such great sadness, and all we can do is watch and pray for them.

On a lighter note I have been to the allotment and dug over the beds ready for the planting to begin and the broad beans are growing at a speedy rate and I hope to get them in their bed and covered under a cloche in a couple of weeks. The tomatoes are growing well and I have pricked them out today and potted them on.
I now need to pot on the chillies, peppers, and the flowers seeds that I have all over the house on every windowsill.

CSN Stores UK

I have been looking at a shopping site called CSN Stores UK, you may have heard of it as I know other bloggers who have reviewed their products. Seeing as I have two wedding to attend this year one being in Italy, YEAH !! this shopping site is an Aladdin's cave of wonderful gift ideas to suit all pockets and tastes their cookware and especially the selection of Saucepans are fantastic. So not only have I been looking for wedding presents, but I am going to review something for them from the store, which I will blog about soon.
If your looking to treat yourself or have a special present to buy take a look at their website.

I hope all your seed planting and plant growing is going well.

Oh my how they've grown !!

2011-03-04T20:46:00.000Z

I planted some seeds on Monday 29th Feb and popped them on the bedroom windowsill covered in plastic bags and to my amazement they are up already. The first to appear were the 'Cosmos' seeds. I sowed 'Cosmos double click' Cosmos brights and 'Sonata' and then the Zinnia's 'Faberge' ( fabulous colours) were up. Next up were the chillies and the peppers and coriander are just starting to peep through.

Of course I am delighted, but now starts the job I dread which is pricking out and potting on. It's not so much the job as the question 'Where the heck am I going to put all these plants' ????? it's too early too put them in the cold greenhouse at the allotment, so I will have to keep them in the two mini-greenhouses (plastic covered type) that I have in the garden. These will soon fill up as I already have my broad beans and onion seeds in one of them. Oh well that will teach me not to be so impatient !

SPEEDY SEEDS

IT'S GOT TO BE SPRING !

I think it must be as the evidence is all around us. There are beautiful Spring flowers everywhere. The Pansies in my front garden are so lovely and were planted last Autumn and survived the freezing winter. They really are amazing plants for value, cheerfulness and colour, I love them.

I hope you all have a lovely week-end and that we all get some sunshine.

M x

Teasing myself with photo's of what's to come !

2011-03-01T17:45:00.000Z

We went up to the allotment today to check on the Tayberry which came from Stephen at Victoriana Nursery and I was excited to see that many buds have opened and little curly leaves are unfurling. It looks very healthy

There was gorgeous rhubarb up and lots more peeping out. I have to admit to being over the top with the rhubarb planting and have about 6 plants of different varieties, but my daughter is going to have a couple of plants on her plot as I really don't have the room for them as they get bigger.

The garlic is doing well, still a bit spindly but it was only planted in the autumn so has a while to fatten up yet. I have two varieties in one being 'Cristo' and the other is a french one that I can't remember off hand.

The purple sprouting broccoli is only just beginning to sprout, I do hope I get a good harvest as I love it.

And we still have some parsnips to harvest. I dug up a lot last week which is now in the garage awaiting to be made into curried parsnip soup Mmmmmm. I will need that bed soon so the rest will need to come up in the next week or so.

Here are the photo's I have been teasing myself with ! I can't imagine the plot looking like this again, but I know it will with a bit of hard graft. Oh I just can't wait, it look so full and lush.

Lovely Broad Beans

2011-02-28T01:18:00.000Z

At last the Broad Beans are up and raring to go, well some of them anyway and the others are just starting to nudge the compost ready to pop out. I look up my old posts on Broad Beans and on March 3rd 2009 the plants were much bigger than these ones that are now growing. It's always exciting when the seedlings appear. I have also sown chillies ( a few varieties) red and white onions, peppers, and some flowers for my cutting bed, oh and some Lemon basil and sweet basil.

I feel that I'm a bit behind this year, but I have been busy doing lots of craft projects and the weather hasn't exactly been inspiring, but I think I am on my way now. Here's a peek at the Broad Beans (photo's taken today.

Parcel delivery and Purple Sprouts

2011-02-05T02:10:00.000Z

The postman brought me a very welcome parcel on Thursday, it was from Stephen at Victoriana Nurseries the Tayberry arrived and also the two Lemon Grass plants. There were also the Parsnip seeds 'Hollow Crown' and my tomato seeds as well. The Globe Artichoke plants wont be delivered until April/May ready for planting out. This gives me time to choose and prepare the area that they will be planted in. I have to plan this wisely as they are perennial and will be there for some time (hopefully) Having only ever eaten Artichokes already prepared in jars from the shop I thought I had better buy some to experiment in preparing and cooking them. A friend kindly bought me and herself a couple each. We didn't have a clue what to do with them, so I turned to good old Google and found lot's of useful links and even video's on YouTube.

After chopping the stem off and taking off the sharp tips and removing the lower leaves, I them boiled them, I will steam them next time as I always steam all my vegetables. When soft I then let them cool, cut out the heart and scraped the flesh from the leaves and then sauteed it all in a little butter with garlic. I ate them cold the next day with a salad, delicious !! the only drawback was they were very small and didn't have much of a heart which is the part |I love the most.

The parcel which was well wrapped in straw and heavy polythene (which I then up-cycled and used to cover one of my raised beds.) the polythene that is !

As you can see the Tayberry is a really good size, I can't wait to get some fruit from it. It also has loads of healthy buds. I am so pleased with the quality of the plant.

The Lemon Grass, lovely for stir fries and so expensive to buy in the supermarket, so I'm hoping to get lot's of my own later on .

Purple Brussel Sprouts, at last a small harvest !

Just look at these beauties,they were more purple than this but I had to remove a lot of the outer leaves, so here they are ready to be steamed. They were delicious and kept their unusual colour and well worth the wait. I would have had some before if they hadn't been so badly infested with white fly. I had to reluctantly

spray them and just wait and see if they grew some more which they did and I have a good few more small harvests to pick yet and will be growing this variety again (Rubine)

I'm raring to go

2011-01-31T17:03:00.002Z

I get very impatient at this time of year and can barely wait until February to start my seeds off. I went through all my seeds last week and there were so many that can be started in February, so yesterday (I know it's still January !) I decided to get started.

I sowed the Broad beans in my root-trainers using a John Innes seed compost. I sowed 12 each of 'Bunyards Exhibition' and the Red variety 'Red Epicure'. Then I planted some Lemon Basil and Sweet Basil and put these on the kitchen windowsill. Also sown were some Bergamot 'Panorama Mixed' they are good for the bees and nice for cut flowers, so I'm hoping that they are as pretty as they look on the packet.

I also got my order in to Victoriana Nurseries. I ordered a Tayberry called 'Buckingham' which is thornless this will be grown in my soft fruit area on the allotment. I ordered some seeds that I had from them last year that were so good I decided to get them again, which are Tomato 'Abraham Lincoln' and Parsnips 'Hollow Crown' both were very successful and delicious.
Also ordered :-
Artichoke plants 'Imperial Star' and 'Romanesco' which will delivered April/May ready to plant out
and 2 x Lemongrass plants ' East India'. I grew my own Lemongrass last year but they never grew large enough for me to get more than a couple of small pieces from, so I decided it's not worth the bother.

Don't forget that Stephen from Victoriana Nurseries is offering 10% discount on orders for readers of my blog, just click on the link on my side bar and your order will automatically get the 10% off.

I went for the first time to the Potato Day in Hampshire on Sunday. It was a last minute decision to go. I was disappointed to find that there was an entry fee of £2 each, so that was £4 before I had even bought any potatoes. However they were only 17p a tuber as opposed to 26p at the garden centre and as I don't grow many ( we don't eat a lot of potatoes) that wasn't too bad. But it cost us more to look at the poatoes than it did to buy them, so probably wont be going again.

I bought 6 x 'Ulster Prince' to try as they looked nice and had a good write up.
6 x ' Chopin' they also looked nice so giving them a try
10 x Inova which is a cross between my favourite 'Nicola' and 'Impala' the man there said they were better than ' Nicola' so thought I'd try these as well. Now to start the chitting !!

So ! there we go the start of a new growing year albeit a bit early, but I couldn't wait any longer. I have to take some kitchen scraps up to the allotment later and whilst there I will check on my brussels and Purple sprouting broccoli (can't wait for that to be ready) the garlic planted last year is growing well and I still have some 'Hollow Crown' parsnips in the ground, oh and some cabbages, I keep forgetting about them as they are hidden under a tunnel.

Have a good week X

Manuring the Raspberries

2011-01-20T13:35:00.001Z

I have managed to get up to the allotment twice this week YEAH ! the weather is getting better, although of course we could always get another load of snow. We moved into our house many years ago during a February and I have photo's of us all making a snowman, so you never can tell !!

Anyway! this week I have managed with the help of my gardening assistant (Austin) to put wheelbarrow loads of manure (that we had delivered at the end of last Autumn) onto my Raspberry canes. Because of the cold weather I was unable to cut them back before now. However I have finally managed to cut the canes right back this week. They are a late fruiting variety (unknown) I always get lot's of lovely fruit from them, but not as large as the fruit from the canes on the plot where my young canes came from. I checked with the person who gave me my canes who says she always cuts hers back and manures them. This is the third year that I have had mine planted, so I thought I would cut them hard back, manure them and see what happens. I only hope I have done the right thing?

There are lots of things going on in the beds, such as flower bulbs peeping through, buds sprouting on the gooseberry bushes and the blackcurrant bush. The herbs are starting to look healthy again, but I have to either dig up and thin out or cut severely back the purple sage as it's far too big for my herb bed.

I am looking forward to growing Globe artichokes this year and I am going to order some plants from Stephen at Victoriana Nursery who incidentally is kindly giving any of my readers 10% discount on anything you order from him. If you want to take up this offer just click on the link on my sidebar as it takes you to his website and when you order the 10% is automatically taken off, but please do check your order to make sure that happens before hitting the final step in ordering. I have checked it out and it does work, but technology sometimes does funny things.

I am going to sow my broad beans in the first week of February and this year I am trying a different one called 'Red Epicure' ( Unwin's) which are chestnut crimson coloured beans which apparently if lightly steamed keep their colour, we shall see !! as well as these I shall grow my favourite 'Bunyards Exhibition' which are tasty.
I think this year I am going to try sowing direct on some things, as I find that keeping an eye on seedlings gets to be a bit of a pain especially if we want to be away for days at a time. There are certain plants that I do like to see that they are good and healthy before setting them in the beds, such as - broad beans, onions, pumpkins, squashes, cucumbers, come to think of it quite a few things, so maybe I wont be so brave after all ha ha.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011-01-02T17:20:00.000Z

I hope the New Year brings you all good health, happiness, Peace and an allotment full of lovely vegetables.

We went up to the allotment today for the first time in many weeks. Our visit was just to take bags of kitchen waste to the compost bins, whilst there I had a look around and saw that the garlic looked strong and healthy and the cabbages were looking small but pretty good too. The brussel sprouts had sprouted some more tiny ones at the top of the stems, so we may get some late ones after all. The sprouts at the bottom were horrid and not worth picking. The purple sprouting broccoli looks sturdy and healthy, so we are hoping for some nice pickings in the spring.

Speaking of Spring ! today was just like a chilly spring day with light clouds and some blue sky, and have you noticed how it's staying lighter for longer in the evening ? I can't wait for the better weather and after going to the allotment today I'm eager to get started on tidying up and adding the manure we got late last year onto the beds. My rasperry canes need cutting back and topping with manure too.
Have a good week.
M x

My Volunteering experience

2010-12-30T16:29:00.000Z

Hi Everyone ! I hope you all survived Christmas and are looking forward to a lovely New Year.

I thought I would fill you all in on my brilliant experience with Crisis at Christmas (Finsbury Park, London centre) It was far and above my expectations, I can't put into words the enjoyment and satisfaction I and all the volunteers got out of it. Myself, my son, his girlfriend and their Australian friend (living here without family) loved it so much that we are up for it next year too.
If I hadn't had family commitments on Boxing day I would have gone back again before my next shift on the 27th, and again after that ( the centre closes today 30th) but I had to head back to Hampshire on 28th sadly.

The lovely veteran actress Sian Phillips, who was once married to Peter O'Toole was there at the centre as a volunteer, she was so lovely and mucked in doing anything asked of her, apparently she has been doing it for a few years now. All the shift leaders running the centre were friendly and amazing to work with. I met lot's of lovely like minded people from all walks of life and all nationalities. I never heard anyone moan about the tasks given and everyone I spoke to intends to go back.

My favourite tasks were washing hair ready for haircuts and serving food in the 'guest' dining room. Our 'guests' were so polite and thankful and believe me they were so well fed. The amount of fresh veg and meat donated by businesses and shops was awesome and kept arriving throughout the days the centre was open.
There was also all sorts of luxurious donated as well, such as biscuits, cakes, chocolates, shampoos, shower gels. The generosity was wonderful.

Although we four arrived together we split up to do our days work which was great because we all had our own individual experiences to tell each other. One task was normally done for around 40 mins to an hour and then we were relieved to go and have a cuppa and a snack in the volunteers area. ( I met some great people)
We then waited for calls to volunteer for the next tasks. One task which we all thought would be boring was sitting in pairs minding 'gaps' this was because there were certain areas of the college that were out of bounds and if they weren't covered by anyone 'guests' would have been wandering all over the building and we wouldn't have known were they were or indeed if they were doing any damage (never happened yet !) but because the college has generously loaned the building for the third year running we have to make sure it's handed back in the condition it was taken over in. fair do's !! Anyway this task turned out to be great, as we got to be with another volunteer to chat and get to know, and the passing 'guests' liked to stop and chat to us, so we had plenty of interaction with them as well.

CRISIS are doing a wonderful job and this was just at one centre. It is well run, catered for everything the 'guests' could have wanted. Showers, hair wash (if not showering at time of haircut) massage, healing, yoga, dance, (the Salsa class went down well ) optician, doctor, dentist, Internet and P.C classes, Bingo which was called out by a Cross Dressing 'guest' in a bright pink lurex dress who also played a mean game of football in the sports hall, I know this as she/he was on my son's team when he volunteered to do the sports. I have to say this particular guest was a gem and so grateful to be there.
I could go on and on but wont ! I would like to ask that you sponsor me though ( I won't be offended if you don't) please help Crisis to carry on their work all year by donating any amount no matter how small.
Here is my sponsorship link :

http://community.crisis.org.uk/page.aspx?pid=592&tab=0&frsid=2788

THANK YOU xx

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

P.S next time I see a person sitting in a cold doorway I will always offer to buy them a coffee or a sandwich ( I never give money) that's one of my N.Y resolutions. My daughter saw a couple on Christmas Eve in Winchester go into a shop and buy a chap in a doorway a duvet. There are Angels among us even the Human kind !!

Happy toasty warm feet

2010-12-23T01:54:00.002Z

I was a bit naughty today because I opened a Christmas present from the hubby, but it was because my feet were freezing and indoors I never wear slippers, well that's until today ! you see I fell in love with a funky pair that I saw whilst out doing our Christmas shopping a couple of weeks ago. I just had to had some, so they were on my Christmas list. I was complaining about how cold my feet were today and that I could do with those slipper now instead of waiting until Christmas, and he indulged me ! ( he also said it saved him having to wrap them up, typical !!!!) So here they are and they are so toasty and warm, but best of all they make me smile everytime I look at them. I love them they are so eccentric, shame they aren't leather as I think I would wear them out !!!

If You have a few minutes Please watch this

2010-12-18T16:40:00.000Z

I found this little video on the main 'CRISIS' website and felt i'd like to share it with you. It's the second video down featuring Jeff Hubbard. The first video with Prince William is also worth watching. The photography is good too.

http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/posview-interviews.html

Oh no not more snow !!!

2010-12-18T13:08:00.000Z

We woke up this morning to lot's of snow. So far we have avoided being snowed in, but today it's probably the worst we have had which is a nuisance as we were meant to be in Surrey to babysit the grandchildren today. The roads are quite bad and my son rang to say that they were having a blizzard there, so our plans have been scrapped and we are staying home instead.
I only hope that it isn't snowing over Christmas because I have to get a train from Esher to Waterloo on Christmas eve to meet up and travel with my son who is volunteering with me, I will be staying with him and his girlfriend in their apartment as it's close to the centre we are all working at on Christmas day. I will be so disappointed if the plans go all wrong because of the snow. I am so looking forward to my shift on 25Th.

The Garden this morning

Our Christmas fireplace looks cosy with all the candles lit, and because we decided on not having a tree this year it makes a lovely seasonal statement.

I probably wont be posting again before Christmas, so I would like to say to everyone have a Wonderful and Peaceful Christmas and I wish you all a Happy New Year.

Volunteering at Christmas

2010-12-06T01:22:00.000Z

I haven't posted for a while now as like everyone else with an allotment/gardening blog there hasn't been a lot going in either. We have had some rain in the last few days so that's cleared the snow away, well almost.

I had to attend a prep meeting in London on Saturday for 'Crisis' who are the wonderful charity that look after the homeless, not just at Christmas but all year round. The weather as you know has been terrible and I wasn't sure I would make the meeting. However I did manage to get there and was so glad I did. It was held in a lovely Baptist church in Shaftsbury Avenue and at a guess I would say there were a couple of hundred people there.'Crisis' need and usually get 6,000 volunteers across the country, we were all first timers.

The speakers were all long term volunteers with loads of experience, some with 14 years or more working with the homeless. It was informative, fun and lovely to learn how 'Crisis' came about which was due to the 1960's film 'Cathy come Home' which is a classic now. but it really got started big time in the early 1970's.
I have volunteered to do a shift from 8.30 - 4pm in a day centre in London on Christmas day and again on 27th Dec from 4pm-10pm.
The meeting highlighted the possible tasks we may be assigned to do, some of which I would never have imagined, and possibly may not like. But we (being myself, my son, his girlfriend and an Australian friend of theirs) all discussed it afterwards and all agreed it didn't put us off and we were looking forward to being useful in making the 'guests' (as they are called ) have a wonderful Christmas, something that we always take for granted.

All sorts of professional people like Doctor's, Nurses, Pharmacists, podiatrists, Opticians,all give their services for free, and more importantly their time over a 2 weeks period leading up to and after Christmas. Not full time of course but the odd few hour shifts here and there. The 'guest' using the centres might not have had a medical check-up for years, or had their eyes tested or their teeth checked, so it's a wonderful time for them. They even get to have a haircut or a manicure or perhaps a massage as well. This is where we come in (possibly) so we are prepared !!! to maybe wash their hair, or feet (gloves provided) ready for the haircut or podiatrist. as well as the usual serving the food to tables (not cooking as have to hold a qualification) there is also tasks like generally chatting and more importantly LISTENING to guests and maybe crafts and board games, they even have football matches (our day centre is held in a college, so lots of room).

We were warned that sometimes but rarely there are angry clashes between 'guest' and the language may sometimes be a bit 'blue' but I was prepared for that so that didn't really concern me too much, as these are people that have to be rough and tough to just survive. They are not always treated kindly in their daily lives, so the pampering they get (for those who want it) is sometimes the only kindly touch they may have in a long time. It was heart warming to also to hear that for those with dogs there a special pampering centre for their furry companion to be seen by a vet and be spoilt and well fed whilst the 'guests' were in the day centres.

If anyone is interested in helping support this very worth while charity and it is worthwhile, we shouldn't have homelessness ! and like the speakers said it's not just drug addicts and alcoholics that are homeless.( which is the general assumption) but also men and women who's marriage or relationships break down, people fleeing abuse, young people leaving foster care at 18, redundancies leading to a loss of their homes is a re-occuring issue as well.

I hope I haven't sounded like i'm on my soap-box !!!! but I don't apologise for writing this post, as it's a great way to get poeple to think about the issue and maybe help in some way even if it's by donating unwanted clothes or items or giving money, or even better volunteering. I will let you know how my shifts go.

http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/christmas.html

Have a lovely week

The thaw after a frost

2010-11-15T22:53:00.000Z

I think the plants look so pretty after they thaw out from a frost. They sparkle like they are covered in jewels as the droplets glisten in the sunshine. I got caught out again by my neighbour who I'm sure thinks I'm quite dotty. I was in my PJ's with my wellies on, crouching down in the flower bed to get a good shot of the Delphinium that still refuses to wither and die. It looked beautiful this morning with it's little water droplets glistening. I spotted it from the kitchen window and just had to grab my camera to try and capture it. I didn't get a good photo, somehow the camera just couldn't capture it well.

We spent a couple of hours at the allotment this afternoon, spreading the manure on the beds. I put a good layer on the Rhubarb as it didn't do too well this year, so hopefully the extra manure will do the trick. I think another couple of weeks tidying up and spreading manure then covering with black plastic should see the end of our visits for a couple of months. The purple sprouts 'Rubine' don't seem to be doing well and they are covered in white fly even though I have them in a cage of 'enviromesh'. I don't think the enviromesh is keeping out the whitefly even though its so fine. I did notice that the sprouts in RHS Wisley were covered in them as well.

Ramblings of a plotholder

2010-11-12T23:55:00.001Z

Hi there ! it's been a few weeks since I last did a post, doesn't time fly ?? the weather has been dreadful here as I expect it has been in your area as well. I don't mind the rain, but when you get the windy days as well and especially together, well what are we gardeners supposed to do ? well there's always next years planting to plan and maybe a new layout for the beds on the allotment, then there's planning the rotation of crops. Hmmm So maybe it's just as well we get some days like this so we can take stock and plan.

Yesterday I took delivery of a HUGE mountain of shredded farmyard manure. There are four of us (girls !)plot-holders sharing the £50 load, so that's great value at £12.50 each and you would only get 3 bags of compost at the garden centre for that money, which wouldn't go very far on an allotment. We had some from the same supplier last year and it is great stuff, and from the last load we all got more than enough for our whole plots and even some to stash in a corner.

If someone had told me 3 years ago that not only would I be paying out good money for a load of S**te but be wheeling it about in the early morning !! well I would have laughed my head off at such a foolish remark !!! I have done things I never dreamed I would do since becoming an allotmenteer, such as crawling into a water butt complete with snails and creepy crawlies in there ! to unscrew the tap so I could replace it with a new one. Another No No a few years back would have been using the chemical loo we have on the allotment, I'm even grateful for that now , I don't know how people get on with no loo on site.

I did take some photo's in the garden the other morning, but it was so windy that they were blurred as the plants I was taking pics of were whizzing about in the wind. The plants in question are a a very defiant delphinium that refuses to believe it's autumn and has produced a tall flowering stem and some rudbeckias that are sending forth blooms as if it were still summer, amazing, but very welcome.

There's not much else to tell really as I have been manuring and covering the beds ready for spring. I have to cut the raspberries back yet and manure them and the rhubarb. I still have lots of baby beetroots to pull up, also parsnips. I planted some cabbages which seem to be growing slowly and I also have purple sprouting broccoli and purple brussel sprouts 'Rubine' which have both grown very tall and leafy.

I have to say I am looking forward to the break from gardening and veg growing for a few months and look forward to getting on and catching up with other hobbies such as crafts and reading. These other things take back seat during the busy planting and growing seasons.

Christmas will soon be upon us once again and I have decided to get the present shopping done early. I have also volunteered to work on Christmas day in a shelter for the homeless in London and again on the 27th Dec ( you have to do 2 shifts) I am looking forward to doing this as it's something I have wanted to do for a long time. The family have been fine about it and in fact my younger son and his girlfriend are volunteering with me. So it will be a very different kind of Christmas this year. I can't bear to think of all the lonely homeless people at Christmas, in fact not just the homeless, even just lonely people with no family or friends, so hopefully my little bit will help others. I think I will gain a lot by it too.

Well this has turned into a long rambling post and not even a photo YET, so here we go I will leave you with these three very different images to make up for rambling on.

I don't much care for the occupant , but I love his house

Remembering Summer

Longing for summer

Break in at the Allotment

2010-10-29T00:59:00.000+01:00

Yes ! we had a break in. Lucky for me that my shed is facing a road and is overlooked by some houses opposite, and the road is lit as well so I escaped the thieves this time. I do really feel for my fellow plot-holders who had their sheds broken into though, One chap had a £300 rotovator stolen and he is gutted as anyone would be. The perpetrators cut a huge hole in the wire fence at the back of the allotments and just climbed in and helped themselves to larger equipment and left decent tools still in the sheds.

They obviously knew what they wanted as apart from damaging and forcing locks and breaking shed windows they didn't trash anything in the sheds and never took garden tools, camping stoves and kettles. They also stole a couple of wheelbarrows. I personally think a child or small person helped them as the windows aren't that big and some sheds didn't have the doors forced but had things taken from the other side of the shed, so someone small had to have climbed in to get to it. My friend lost her strimmer that way.
It's all very unsettling. I hate this time of year on the allotment at the best of times. I hate the mess, the leaves ( yes I know they make lovely leaf mould !) the mud, decaying plants , you get the picture ! OH what a misery I am today, so I will cheer myself up with a few photo's.

I hope you all have a lovely week-end, and next post will be a happy one promise !!

A Taste of Autumn at RHS Wisley

2010-10-26T20:40:00.001+01:00

On Friday we went to the Autumn festival at RHS Wisley. It wasn't as good as I expected it to be, but it was a lovely sunny day and the grounds at Wisley were showing all the beautiful autumnal colours, and also signs of the severe frosts we had recently, lots of plants were blackened by the frost just as mine were at home in the garden, especially my dahlias which have now all been lifted and drying off to store over winter.

It was heaven there for 'Foodies' as most of the stalls were food. There was cheeses, pickles, jams, wine, cordials, oils, and lot's more, all delicious (well I had to have a free taster !!) and not the usual supermarket buys. I'm not sure I would go again, but as we were passing to go to my son's anyway we thought we would go and see what the festival was like.

We visit Wisley often as I am a member of the RHS and I do love it there. The shop and garden centre are both so good with lots of wonderful gift ideas at this time of year. The restaurants ( there are a couple of them) are also very good value and the portions are very generous.

There were lots of apples

Stripey English Apples, I have never seen these before !!

Beautiful Seeds

Fabulous Pumpkins, some I've never seen before and now want to grow next year

Chillies and Onions

Beautiful Chard

Lovely Pink berries

Globe artichokes, these are on my 'must grow next year' list.

Some advice from RHS on how to grow artichokes

Parsnips, Chillies and Soup

2010-10-13T15:48:00.000+01:00

I think I have whats known as a GLUT of chillies, so help ! apart from drying and storing and of course cooking with some, what do all you peeps do with your chillies, suggestions please.

Then there's the Parsnips, I know that you are supposed to wait until a frost to sweeten them and get the best taste, but honestly they are so large and the roots so far down, it took two of us to dig them up, and it was tough going, so I think cold soil would make thing even harder. I have left lots in the ground, but decide to dig some up now.

They wouldn't get any prizes for looks, but my goodness they are tasty, so into a soup they went. I was into one of my experimenting soup making moods. This is what I made and it is delicious. I often forget to write down my experiments in soup making, so this one has been written down and posted on my crafts and recipe blog here so if you want the recipe follow the link.

http://allotmentheavencraftsandrecipes.blogspot.com/

And here is a photo of the soup which is 'Curried Squash, parsnip and courgette' YUMMY !!!

A photo for Prospero

2010-10-02T00:53:00.000+01:00

Whilst in Crouch End, London, a couple of weeks ago I saw this old book shop and thought of a blogger friend who goes by the name of Prospero so I took this photo and said I would post it. Apparently it's a bit of a cult book shop for the local 'intellectuals' and even sells it's own (with name on) calico bag which people who use the shop carry around (so I have been told !) I saw the said bags hanging in the window, but didn't see anyone carrying one !! so I just have to take my sources word for it !!

So this photo is for you Prospero.

Raspberries, Rhubarb and Rainbows.

2010-09-29T20:18:00.000+01:00

The late fruiting Raspberries, it's been a good year.

Beetroot, cooked and pickled in vinegar and my favourite Raspberry Curd.

I was busy in the kitchen yesterday.

After the rain, out came the sun and a wonderful double rainbow.

I have always loved rainbows, they never fail to enchant me.

The colours of Autumn

2010-09-23T21:51:00.000+01:00

Pumpkins grown on the allotment, they are so beautiful .

Chillies from my greenhouse.

Tomatoes in all shades, the yellow are delicious.

Calendulas

I love the Turkshead squash it's kind of ugly beautiful

Mamma Mia here we go again !!

2010-09-15T16:22:00.004+01:00

I don't know about anyone else but I am so fed up with looking at bowls of tomatoes taking over my kitchen, hasn't it been a great year for them ?? trouble is I grew too many. So here I go again making more batches of Italian style tomato, garlic and chili pasta sauce. I have frozen about five pots already and used some to cook with and it was delicious. So here are all the ingredients and all grown on my plot I might add !! ready to make another big batch of the sauce. I am scared to look out in the garden in case I see more ripe tomatoes !!

What has everyone been doing with their tomatoes ?? I would love to know, so any tips please pass them on.

This is another veg that I have had in abundance, cute little 'munchkin squashes' and as sweet as they look I am running out of ideas to cook them apart from adding them to soups and stews, and baking them. Does anyone else grow these ?

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I won a giveaway prize from Damien at 'Two chances veg plot blog' it arrived this morning and is a 'Lands End' gift voucher for £25 to spend on something from their range of clothing. Also enclosed was three packets of nasturtium seeds, lovely ! so thank you Damien and also to your little girl for picking my name out of the hat.

They call it mellow yellow

2010-08-23T23:05:00.006+01:00

After a heavy rainfall on Sunday night and early Monday morning, it started to brighten up and the sun came out for a while during the morning. The rain had left everything in the garden looking fresh and glistening with raindrops. I hadn't realised how much yellow there was this year in the garden. It's the first year that I have grown so many flowers from seed, and the Rudbeckia and the Zinnias are beautiful and are definitely on my 'To grow again next year' list.

Six little 'munchkin' squashes and three round yellow courgettes.

I found the little garden gnome in the loft. It was given as a joke present to my son whilst he was at university, it seemed a shame to leave him up there, so after checking with my son if he wanted it, and he didn't, I put him in the garden.

The herb and salad boxes

Today's bumper harvest

2010-08-15T21:46:00.010+01:00

I haven't been up to the allotment for a couple of days, so I went up today and found lots of little jobs that needed urgent attention. The first big job was to cut the comfrey back as it was so overgrown that it was hiding two courgette plants. I will never be able to use it all myself, so I'll give some away to other plot holders to make comfrey tea. It might stink but it's a great tonic for the plants. I will add some to the compost bins as well as it's a good accelerator and adds lots of goodness to the compost.

Then I had some weeding to do, lot's of weeding ! The 'Munchkin' squashes grown this year from seeds kindly sent to me by Kella ( where is that girl ?? she hasn't posted for ages !! ) anyway back to the Munchkins, they have taken over vast amounts of space on the plot, meandering here and there and sprouting baby munchkins all over the place, we had a tiny one (accidentally cut off too early) for dinner this evening, steamed with all the other veg we had and it was delicious.

My harvest today consisted of :

1 large swede

2 munchkin squashes

2 large 'Abraham Lincoln' tomatoes

lots of cherry tomatoes

10 beetroot

french beans

mangetout

carrots

raspberries

2 long green courgettes

1 very overgrown large round green courgette

My neighbours are very pleased that I grow my own as they have been benefiting from my bumper harvests this year. It's nice to give some away as there is only so much one can eat or freeze, it's good to share it.

Busy Busy Busy

2010-08-03T15:14:00.007+01:00

I have been so busy these last few weeks, as I expect you all have as well. But I thought I should find a least half an hour today to do a post, as it's so easy to get out of the habit of regular postings.

Last Friday we went to stay with my son and his wife and enjoyed a day/night with the grandchildren, then on Saturday we caught the train and went to our other son who lives in central London. We had a fabulous time and visited Camden Lock , we haven't been there for years. It's an amazing place, buzzing with life and teeming with people. I must have taken over 150 photo's and have captured the spirit of the place, but that will have to be another post or even a link to flikr. If you ever get a chance to go I can really recommend it.

In the evening we ate out in Primrose Hill at a traditional Greek restaurant, the food and ambiance was brilliant. We then walked up Primrose Hill which is always crowded with people whatever the time.

On Sunday we went to Leicester Square and had lunch in a vegetarian South Indian restuarant and went to look around the amazing 'Liberty' store. The interior of the building is stunning, and for 'crafty' people like myself the haberdashery and fabric departments are awesome, I had to be dragged out screaming I WANT I WANT !!!!!!

Anyway ! that was the week-end, so now back to reality and the Garden (watered by a kind neighbour in exchange for Lot's of veggies) and the allotment watered by my daughter. I went up to check the greenhouse and the tomatoes were HUGE and some were ripe. There were courgettes (oh No) aubergines (moussaka today ) and hundreds of red and white onions to pull up and left on racks to dry, a few of the smaller ones I bought home to dry in the garden

Moussaka

These are the 'Abraham Lincoln' tomatoes grown from seed (VICTORIANA NURSERY)

the largest here weighed 12 ozs on it's own.

Little and Large ( a mix of different tomatoes)

The Newly built brassica tent, not quite a cage ! as we need more aluminum rods as I didn't buy enough, I have got all the 'Build a Balls' I need though.

Rosie has new clothes

Flowers picked from the garden this morning

Dahlias make a beautiful bouquet

That's about all for this post. I actually feel very tired today after all the walking about in London and I haven't done half the things I wanted to do. Never mind there is always tomorrow ! I now have to get on and get that moussaka cooked.

Have a good week everyone.

M x

I had a visitor in my kitchen today

2010-07-28T21:04:00.003+01:00

This beautiful Dragonfly flew into my kitchen today, it was amazing and the photo doesn't do it justice. It flew around frantically and I shut the back door so it couldn't escape until I got some photo's. I then helped it fly off out of the window by gently easing it along the glass and out into the garden.

A Perfect day

2010-07-25T00:30:00.005+01:00

We visited the Carshalton Lavender farm open day on Saturday and it was a good day for it. The sun was shining, the bees were buzzing and the lavender smelt heavenly. But the highlight of the day after picking some lavender from the fields was meeting a dear blogger friend Ali who's allotment backs onto the lavender fields. Ali's was one of the first allotment blogs I ever visited and we have kept in contact ever since. She and her husband Ian are delightful and we felt like we had known them for ages. We visited her plot and it is immaculately kept and looked exactly like the photo's on her blog. Here are a few photo's of our meeting.

The Lavender fields

Ali and myself outside her lottie shed.

Ali checking her plums

The lovely Ali

Austin looking very dodgy ! on Ali's plot

We had a great day out and got back in time for a BBQ at my daughters, so in the words of Del Boy Trotter ' Perfik' . I hope you have a lovely week-end

M x

A pictorial update on the happenings from plot 19

2010-07-22T22:23:00.007+01:00

First of all Rust on the garlic forced me to dig it up earlier that I wanted to. The leaves were really badly infected and had lots of spores on them. I had to save the garlic from further troubles, so I dug them up and dried them out on the concrete and newspaper away from the beds, as I didn't want the spores contaminating the earth in the them. The garlic is fine but I wont be able to plait them like last year as the foliage has to be cut off and discarded away from the plot, but at least I didn't lose the garlic.

Courgettes, round, green and yellow. Both equally delicious either baked, steamed or in an Italian sauce recipe.

Siamese courgette !! I had a lot of Siamese veg last year, very odd !!

Mondays harvest. This makes it all worthwhile

And now for the flowers on the plot. First pic, Cosmos 'Double Click' and the single is 'Sonata'

Dahlia 'Pink Giraffe' and living up to it's name this year as it is so tall, strange really as it hasn't grown this tall before. Pink echinacea grown from seed last year.

A bouquet picked on Monday from the garden and allotment. Still going strong today with the exception of a couple of droopy ones going over.

This photo is for DAMO who I know loves dahlias as much as I do. I grew them for the first time this year and they are called 'Stargazer' these two are such pretty colours and I am waiting for the others to flower.

Sweet-peas galore this year both in the garden and at the allotment, so little posies every other day filling the house with glorious scent.

Pumpkins, not sure what this one is but it's getting very big.

Turks Head squash

Chillies in the greenhouse

Peppers in the greenhouse

Tomato, 'Abraham Lincoln' from seeds which I am trialing for 'VICTORIANA NURSERY'

as you can see they are bigger than the palm of my hand, OK I have small hands but believe me they are huge. I can't wait for them to ripen and there are so many of them.

Red onions, doing well and look like they may be ready to harvest soon.

My pride and joy !! success after two years of trying hard to grow aubergines Ssshhhh ! just in-case they fall off overnight !! Three are swelling and there are a few more starting. Moussaka !!!!

Hampton Court Flower show

2010-07-13T02:02:00.003+01:00

I have posted some photo's that I took at the flower show on my other blog 'Happiness Is' the link is below. The 'Harrod horticultural' plot was amazing, they had every kind of vegetable growing in an allotment setting and all of the veg were perfect specimans

http://myworldthroughthecameralens.blogspot.com/

And in the greenhouse ..........

2010-07-11T22:11:00.005+01:00

There are these beauties growing. Plus lots of different chillies (no photo's )

These are the tomato plants grown from seeds from Victoriana Nursery and they are called 'Abraham Lincoln' so far they are huge and look to be growing even bigger every time I visit the greenhouse. One fits into the palm of my hand, I can't wait to try one as soon as they are ripe.

I have 2 cucumber plants grown from seed, can't remember which seed company off hand, but they are called 'Burpless' I grew them last year and they are delicious. I can't keep up with harvesting them and have been giving loads away, shame they can't be frozen.

Fingers crossed I will get some decent Aubergines this year, so far 3 have started swelling.

The first little pepper has just started to grow, I have about 6 plants in the greenhouse so hope to get a good harvest from them.

It's such a busy time of year in the garden and the allotment so forgive me if I don't post as often and I am trying to visit the blogs on my blog list as you all inspire me.

Have a lovely week. M x

What a difference a month makes !!

2010-07-02T22:45:00.005+01:00

My first two french beans 'Fasold' I grew these last year and they are delicious. There are lots of flowers so I'm hoping for a bumper crop this year.

Two rows of beetroot, I didn't thin them out in time, so now I am pulling them as baby ones and leaving some in to get bigger.

The three varieties of courgettes. I also planted seeds for long yellow ones, but I think I gave them all away by mistake as the tags got lost, so I have planted two long green ! doh !!

Two varieties of Parsnips either end carrots in the middle and some self sown nasturtiums.

The herb bed

Some of the squashes, I have lot's more.

These two are 'Legend'

This is a little 'Turks cap' squash

The broad beans, I have had such a bumper crop this year and they have unfortunately been covered in blackfly. I didn't pinch out the tops early enough, but they wash off and have to be podded anyway. I love to eat my broad beans small and tender.

I have a real little Eco system going on amongst the broad beans, but these two would rather get up to more interesting things than eat the blackfly !!

Ohhh the lovely mangetout, my favourite this year, I have just got another row going for after this row gives out.

Purple brussel sprouts (at the back) and purple sprouting broccoli (in front) I have to thin them out as they are too close together and more than I need, but rather than compost some and then lose the ones I planted (sod's law !) I put them all in for the time being. (my law !)

Potatoes, two rows of Charlotte (second earlies) and two rows of 'King Edward' (main crop)

I have had one row of 'Charlotte up and they are delicious.

Onions, red and white and all grown from seed. There's about 150 all together in this and another bed.

Red Gooseberries

A small fruit harvest from yesterday. I have been picking strawberries every day and have frozen bags of them.

A small fruit and veg harvest from a couple of days ago. Sadly the spinach is all gone so I must sow some more.

That's it for today, I took masses of photo's this afternoon, far to many to show here in this post, so I will put some more on later. Have a great week-end everyone. I'm looking forward to next week as we are going to Hampton Court Flower Show. I have been every year for about 7 years now and love it for the photography as well as all the lovely plants and ideas.

Armed and dangerous and ready to give those beetles what for !!!

2010-05-29T20:21:00.006+01:00

ASPARAGUS BEETLES

The bottle of Bio-Friend Plant Defence arrived today, sent to me from Stephen at

'Victoriana Nurseries' thank you Stephen ! I can't wait to spray the asparagus.

It will last a long time as 20mls make up a 1 litre mix which I will put in a spray bottle. You can read more about this product by clicking on the Victoriana link and going to the website and typing in the name of the product. I will keep you updated as to the effects, but if Stephen uses it on his crops then it's good enough for me.

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ROSES

I took this photo of some roses that I cut from my front garden, it's been there for years. It's is called 'Royal Romance' and was given the name when Prince Charles and Lady Diana were 'courting' they may even have just got engaged , so yes as you can see it's been there a long time. I just googled the name and it looks like it's not available anymore, shame !. Anyway this is the first year that I have had any decent roses that deserved cutting and bringing indoors, so I am delighted with it this year. I am ashamed as a plant-person to admit that I totally neglect it, never feed it, rarely treat it for black-spot, greenfly etc and now It's almost saying ' Look at Me' I am going to treat it to a good feed this week-end.

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SWISS CHARD BARGAIN

I popped over to Home-base today to have a look for any bargains going in the bank holiday events there. I spotted this pot of Swiss Chard called 'Bright Lights' they were looking so badly neglected, dried out compost, withered leaves, etc, so I got cheeky and asked at the desk if someone in charge could reduce the sorry plants and YEAH I got them for 90p instead of £1.99. I took them home cut off the wilted leaves and gave them a good long drink. I counted 16 plants and they now look great, so I will pot them on until they bulk up a bit before planting them out. I have always wanted to try this veg, so now I can.

Asparagus Beetle

2010-05-24T23:09:00.004+01:00

Sorry to have to show you this horrid beetle photo, but we have an infestation of these nasty things on our allotment. The plot opposite mine has them big time and my poor little spears that are just coming through from the purple asparagus and the little ferny shoots that I'm trialing from Victoriana Nursery have them too. I wasn't sure how to deal with them, so I e-mailed Stephen from Victoriana Nursery and he gave some good advice and a link to his product that will help eradicate them. Here is what he said :----------

The beetles do no damage - its their larvae that nibble the emerging shoots and cause them to grow distorted like shepherds crooks.

The reality is there is nothing that will completely knock out the beetles as they emerge over a long period. Vigilance is the most important thing and pick off any beetles you see and more importantly cut any fern that you see tiny black eggs on (not yet I would think).

Something like http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/plant_care_and_gardening_tools/biofriend_plant_defence_no1/

will kill some and put off a lot of the rest (we use it on our own beds - do you want some) and birds will help as well as will a hard Winter.

But ultimately you probably need to accept you'll get a few odd shaped spears each year; as you are not Tesco I'm guess that doesn't matter?

They will never kill the bed off.

SO some re-assuring words there from Stephen, which made me feel much better about it. I went up and gave a copy of his advice to my fellow plot holder and he and I went around picking off the nasty beetles and popping them in a bucket of water, there were so many, so hopefully we stopped many eggs being laid.

I hope you don't get them on your asparagus and if you do then I hope Stephens advice and his all natural organic product will help you.

All in a good days work !

2010-05-18T22:03:00.006+01:00

Oh what joy, after 10 days of feeling dreadful I think this horrid virus is finally on it's way. I didn't hardly cough today or blow my nose continuesly as I have for the last week, so I guess it's almost run it's course. I did see the practice nurse yesterday as I had a dull constant earache, she looked down my ears and they weren't infected but she said all my glands were up and putting pressure on the eardrum. I was told to give it 48 hours (tomorrow ) and if it's no better I will have antibiotics. But I hope that by tomorrow all will be gone.

Enough of my tale of woe, now for the real reason for posting. I did a few hours on the plot and have some photo's to share, it's quite amazing how everything is growing now that we have had some decent rain and a bit of sunshine. I got my french beans (Fasold) planted out, but as I haven't hardened them off I wrapped them in fleece and mulched them heavily with grass clippings which were very warm as they were rotting, so I'm convinced they will be fine. What a crazy year this has been, I can hardly believe that we are nearly at the end of May and some things are still not in the ground due to the weather. I still have all the squashes to go out.

Lots of flowers on the Broad Beans

I am expecting a good harvest of strawberries from this bed.

The Swedes are growing well

The, mangetout, radishes, spinach and beetroot are all through

Potatoes earthed up for the 3rd and last time

First real signs of the asparagus kindly given to me to trial from Victoriana Nursery Gardens these are ' Connovers Colossal' , sadly I can't harvest any this year.

Wheelbarrow planted with Pansies this year.

Flower bed freshly dug and dahlia 'Pink Giraffe' among other plants went in today.

I finally got some other colours apart from yellow in the wallflower bed. They were dissapointing this year as they were supposed to be mixed colours as last year.

Looking down the plot from the greenhouse

Tomatoes from' Victoriana Nursery' doing very well, these are 'Abraham Lincoln' and apparently are very large, yummy !!!!

Parsnips coming through, Yeah !! and I planted straight into the ground this year. Again from 'Victoriana Nursery' and are called 'Hollow Crown'

My first attempt to grow gooseberries this was a large 2 year old plant when I bought it last year, so I should have a decent harvest this year (I hope) it's a red variety, but they obviously start off green.

Can you believe that this photo was taken on 23rd March and see second cabbage photo below taken today, amazing !

Cabbages are now almost bursting through the netting.

Well that's it for todays work and planting. I hope in the next week to get the squashes out and the purple sprouting broccoli and the brussel sprout plants hardened off ready to put them into a bed as soon as it's prepared.

Hi Ya

2010-05-13T21:32:00.005+01:00

It's been a while now so I thought I had better do a post. It's not that I haven't wanted to ! I just haven't felt up to it as I have been fighting off a cold or virus of some sort for almost a week. I coughed so much that my ribs hurt which in turn made me dread coughing. I caught it off Austin and he caught it off the little ones. I only hope that we didn't leave it behind on the Isle of Wight where we stayed with friends for 4 days ( Austin had it then) Anyway enough self pity it's on it's way now and today I felt much better, but it's left me feeling physically and mentally drained.

Luckily a lovely neighbouring plot holder and good friend has been opening and closing the greenhouse each day for me and watering when it needed it.

I cut our first cabbage of the year today and it was delicious. I sowed and planted them last autumn. They haven't hearted up yet, but we just fancied a cabbage so I cut them anyway, left a small cut cross on the stalks which will encourage some more little spurts of growth (hopefully) and there are lots more cabbages left for later on.

No photo's of the plot but there is a lot happening there. The mangetout are in and growing well. How they ever survived the really bad frost last night I will never understand as lots of people lost their beans (planted out too early) and most of us got our potatoes caught by it.

I have garlic doing well that has been in since the autumn, also some leeks getting bigger and more sown, the aforementioned cabbages, two types of beetroot, radishes, spinach, carrots, two types of parsnips all of these crops are showing through now Oh and some swedes these I have to confess to buying from Homebase reduced to 99p for 10 plants that looked like they wouldn't make it, but I love a challenge. They are all 10 doing well so far.

Little feathery fronds of Asparagus are just beginning to show and I noticed today that the gooseberries bushes, well the red one anyway is covered in tiny gooseberries (green at this stage !!)

I did take a few pic's in the garden this morning though.

These are tiny teeny gladioli that I planted from the little pipettes I found growing around the gladioli bulbs that I dug up to overwinter. I also left some bulbs in the ground and have noticed that they are coming up at last, but having these little new plants is the bonus of lifting some.

I know we had a cold winter, but amazingly these Mimulus survived in this same pot all through it. That has never happened before, they are usually a very tender annual, they should be flowering soon, so that's another bonus in the garden. The Violas did very well too.

These short and pretty Tulips have been brilliant, they have flowered for so long and survived the windy days and kept their petals. I love they way they have become wide and open almost like little peonies.

And here is my favourite, I will definitely grow these again every year and on the plot so I can have some to cut for indoors

The Health Benefits of Rhubarb and it's juice

2010-04-29T13:12:00.005+01:00

I thought that I had read somewhere recently (probably the daily paper) that rhubarb juice was beneficial to health. So when I harvested lots of the said stuff on Tuesday I decide to save all the juice as I had added too much water and it needed to be poured off. Anyway here are some very good links to places that tell us all about this wonderful juice. It taste lovely and you can even make a mix with oranges as well, check these out as it's worth a try. Also try googling ' Health benefits of Rhubarb juice' as lots of other sites and info came up.

http://web.me.com/davidperryphoto1/GardenBlog/A_Photographers_Garden_Blog/Entries/2009/5/4_Rhubarb_Juice:__A_Many_Spendored_Thing.html

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,rhubarb_juice,FF.html

And here is one from good old 'Waitrose' must be good if they have a recipe. If you try it and like it please let me know.
http://www.waitrose.com/recipe/Rhubarb_Juice.aspx

I have written this post on my Craft and Recipe blog as well, but as not all of the readers of this blog follow that one I didn't want you to miss out on this info as most of us ( if not everyone) grows rhubarb.
http://allotmentheavencraftsandrecipes.blogspot.com/

Roll on the Winter for a rest - JOKING !!

2010-04-28T22:34:00.006+01:00

Seriously, I moaned about the winter and longed for the spring, but it brings the flurry of sowing, nurturing, planting, nurturing (again) and hoeing and watering, and that's just on the allotment and then there's the garden as well. But the joy it all bring when it starts to look good and plants are growing and starting to flower and produce the first signs of whats to come, well ! that makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Yesterday I spent from 12.30 pm until 7.40pm at the allotment. I couldn't believe it when I asked someone the time that I had been up there for that long. I get so involved in what I'm doing that I just lose track of time. Today I was there for another 5 hours, but one and half was spent drinking tea and chatting with a friend who was prepared to come and have a cuppa on the plot as she knows that.s where I'm likely to be in this lovely weather. She said it was a very tranquil place to be, how nice !

So today I sowed beetroot, Boltardy and Boston, and Spinach and some lovely purple German radishes. ( sorry no pictures). I also got the other beds weeded and raked ready for the Courgettes ( 4 varieties) and the Mangetout and squashes all growing in the greenhouse and soon to be planted out.

This morning I worked in the garden before going to the allotment this afternoon, so here are some photo's I took before I headed off to the plot.

Fabulous Tulips

First signs of life with the Dahlias. I stored the tubers from last year and planted them up a month ago, they will be transplanted to the garden and allotment soon.

More self seeded Viola's, they get everywhere, but luckily I love them.

The Spring planted wheelbarrow

Lovely Pink Ranunculus

Self seeded Red Orach

Viola's self seeded in the cracks of the paving.