Busy cutting back the shrubs in the garden at home, I noticed a Starling feeding. I immediately pulled out the camera and snapped him. Then our floral display caught my eye, it is amazing how many lovely late flowers we have blooming in Autumn.
 We have a quite large Wisteria type of climbing plant with beautiful bunches of blue flowers and a fairly thick trunk growing at the bottom of the garden. Over the years I have trained this shrub to climb over an arch with a trellis inside. A climbing pink rose and some climbing clematis twine around the trellis making this a wonderful display during the summer. Sadly the vicious Norlfolk winds have struck and almost blown the whole structure away. I desperately want to preserve my treasured shrubs and I will have to visit a garden center or a builders yard to purchase some supports to keep my beautiful garden children secure. My drunken looking trellis and two pictures of a beautiful late yellow rose that has suddenly burst into flower. This rose was rescued from Mum's garden in Bishops Stortford. A lovely memory of a wonderful lady. The tiny cyclamen always bloom at this time of the year, this little beauty was transported from my old allotment in Highgate in London, obviously thriving well and loves growing in Norfolk. Meanwhile Back on the allotment A steam train passing the allotment~ I was quite lucky as there are not many structures to blow away on my allotment some of the neighbouring allotments had fruit cages blown down and there was a plastic cloche sailing in the wind. There are still some late crops to be harvested, I have leeks, cabbages, sprouts, spinach and kale and I am still finding a few late raspberries on the canes. My tomatoes are still quite green and I think Margaret will be making some tasty green chutney this year. I can't get over the strawberries, I am finding some very late fruit even now in October, almost a second crop. I am not sure if this is due to the tip I followed up from the Gardeners World television programme or not. I will certainly be cutting all the leaves off the plants again next year in July when they have finished fruiting. Digging and weeding today. Peace~~ :)  The weather has been atrocious here on the Norfolk coast. I have been unable to start the rough digging on the beds that are empty. I usually dig all the beds over at this time of the year and dig in some compost to rot down over the winter. I will be planting some over-winter Onions, Garlic and probably some more Broad Beans when the weather gets better. There is a lot of clearing up to do, mostly weeds and plants that have finished their cycle of growth. I will have to cut down all the raspberry canes that have now finished fruiting and burn them. A very sad time of the year really the weather gets ever more depressing and the dark mornings, with shorter days are upon us. I now get great satisfaction by remembering the wonderful gardening year we have enjoyed and planning for next years planting~ Meanwhile memories are made of this~~~ BirdsongDawn breaks on a mist dampy day Frost fills the air and colours the parkway, January shadows, loom and recede Not a sound to shatter the icy mead. Then, a deep throated sonata from a nearby bush A fusion of birdsong to break the hush Rising and falling to colour the morning A Blackbird song signals a new day dawning. The rich fluty quality, the tuneful sound Resounds and is heard for miles around This natural symphony is a beautiful warning, A territorial stakeout, he is seriously performing. He whistles and warbles sweet sound in profusion, Smooth trilling notes with melody in perfect fusion, My eyes narrow in the cold morning light To catch sight of the songster before he takes flight. The silence seems melodic and richly outspoken, Then, the smooth flow of notes is suddenly broken, A cry of alarm sounds, wings flap with a whir The Blackbird flies from the danger of feathers or fur. His natural defense against Man, Feline or Hawk, Against the danger of attack or predatory stalk, He will surely return when the threat is gone, Safety beckons and he will take up his song. A melody of love and careful protection Of his territory, his nest after careful selection. The beautiful warning resumes, a mass of sound, Tuneful, melodic with a clarity profound. Lifting my spirits, all danger is past I return to my allotment, and take up my task. I turn the soil, suddenly with a whir of wing A blackbird arrives for food for his offspring. Poem by John Yeo © 28/08/2013 All rights reserved.  My friend the Blackbird stops work Copyright by John Yeo © 28/08/2013 All rights reserved.
 I have finally finished digging out and storing my main crop potatoes. This is about half of my crop of Desiree a very good storing variety that should keep us in some lovely meals all over the winter. There is a slight trace of potato scab on some of them but no matter as this will scrape off in the peeling and the spuds will taste delicious.
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AuthorJohn~~Battling with the elements, pests and diseases in my struggle to keep the garden growing. A constant daily struggle that will be recorded here. 
Gardening is such a delightful pastime. I spend time on my allotment almost every day of my life, and the sensation of pure satisfaction never ceases to amaze me. I get so much out of this pleasure, I think the benefits are so huge that the government should legislate and make it more available to everyone. I will list just some of the obvious reasons here. ~~
1) Fresh fruit and vegetables and other produce. 2) Fresh air and an intense feeling of getting close to Nature. 3) Healthy exercise without the necessity of machines that are found inside a gym. 4) The satisfaction obtained by growing plants and watching and caring for them through to maturity. 5) A regular occupation that you can make into a routine, somewhere to go to at a certain time every day. 6) The companionship of like-minded people, with whom you can get ideas and swap tips on your mutual interests. Archives
March 2016
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