The Health Benefits of Rhubarb and it's juice

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 !!

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.

A tour of plot 19. Now you know why I haven't had time to blog !!

I spent 5 hours today working on the plot. I am now so tired but thought I would post these photo's of how it all looks now. Still Lot's more to do though.

Freshly dug, manured and raked Onion bed, and yes the onions are in ! but they were grown from seed and have just been transplanted from the seed trays. The stones separate the red and white onions. I must count them as it seemed like 100's. They should take off and grow quite quickly now they have all that space.

Close up of the tiny onions

Cabbages are growing so fast.

Broad Beans.

It all looks better for being dug over.


Another view, looking down the plot.

The Herb bed. Things are growing, but more needs adding this year.


I'm so disappointed with the wallflowers. I bought mixed colours, but they are all yellow shades.
last years colours were fabulous, oh well they are cheery.

Rosie is waving, poor old girl needs new clothes and new straw hair, I must do that soon.

Another view, looking up towards the shed.

The fruit area. Gooseberries (Red & Green) Strawberries, Raspberries and about six Rhubarb plants (don't ask why six !) two Blueberry bushes are growing in the garden at home.



In the foreground bed, Garlic and leeks, ( leeks growing and some just sown )
Next raised bed has two types of parsnips and lots of carrots, all recently sown, nothing is up yet.


My lovely blue chair. A welcome seat for tired legs. It was a dumped chair found on a pile of thrown away items near the allotments, a coat of paint transformed it.

My Irish Blessing in the shed.

And finally one variety of tomatoes that I'm growing 'Abraham Lincoln' from 'Victoriana Nursery' are doing very well after a slow start to germinate.

So you see I have been very busy, and that's why I haven't posted, well ! that's one of the reasons as I did also go away for a few days to visit the grandchildren .

I always long for the Spring and the Summer but it brings with it so many things to do and places and people to visit. So much so that by the end of the Summer I am always ready for the rest as the gardening and allotment needs slow down. I can then get back to my crafts and plan for the next year !! Sometimes I think of that famous poem ( see below) where it says we should take the time to stop and stare, maybe tomorrow I will do just that.

Leisure, by William Henry Davies (1871-1940)

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.