Margaret's special Blue rose OUR GARDEN
One busy month later from my last Blog post. I cannot believe how fast the time has flown this month.
There has been quite a nice display of colour, in both the front, and the back parts of our garden. We have had quite a good crop of cherry tomatoes in pots and my blueberry bushes have produced some lovely fruit. I am truly amazed at how well Margaret's blue rose has flowered once, and has returned to flower again so beautifully.
One busy month later from my last Blog post. I cannot believe how fast the time has flown this month.
There has been quite a nice display of colour, in both the front, and the back parts of our garden. We have had quite a good crop of cherry tomatoes in pots and my blueberry bushes have produced some lovely fruit. I am truly amazed at how well Margaret's blue rose has flowered once, and has returned to flower again so beautifully.
The lawns have required the usual extra effort as the summer growth of the grass takes off. My friend and follower, the robin, appeared, and pounced on any form of insect life that the mower blades turned up. I am certain he is feeding his family in a nearby nest.
We had some friends to stay and we were able to make good use of our new garden furniture. We were able to enjoy some wonderful al fresco breakfasts in the garden as the weather has been beautiful. We also had a barbecue and we enjoyed just sitting and chatting in the garden until quite late.
We had some friends to stay and we were able to make good use of our new garden furniture. We were able to enjoy some wonderful al fresco breakfasts in the garden as the weather has been beautiful. We also had a barbecue and we enjoyed just sitting and chatting in the garden until quite late.
A steam train passing the allotments OUR ALLOTMENT
I was working on the allotment a bit later than usual when I managed to take this great photograph of a steam train passing by, on the way to Sheringham.
So far we have had some good crops of onions and garlic, first and second early potatoes and many courgettes; both the conventionally shaped, and a wonderful new variety that is round shaped and very easy to cook.
It has been a very good year for soft fruit, starting with masses of strawberries followed by beautiful raspberries then cultivated blackberries.
I followed up a tip from the "Gardeners World" television programme and I cut all the old foliage from my strawberry plants when they had finished fruiting. This is a brilliant idea that I have never tried before and the plants are looking very healthy for their haircut.
I have grown, lettuces radishes and beet-root and we have enjoyed some very tasty salads. My tomato plants look very healthy and strong and thankfully there is no sign of the dreaded blight :( anywhere on the allotment site so far this year
The over-winter broad beans were good and my french beans also did very well. The runner beans are exceptionally good and as my photographs show, they look very pretty when in flower, as I have two varieties with different colour flowers climbing the canes together.
Margaret has asked me to grow some sweet corn this year and they are growing very well.
I was working on the allotment a bit later than usual when I managed to take this great photograph of a steam train passing by, on the way to Sheringham.
So far we have had some good crops of onions and garlic, first and second early potatoes and many courgettes; both the conventionally shaped, and a wonderful new variety that is round shaped and very easy to cook.
It has been a very good year for soft fruit, starting with masses of strawberries followed by beautiful raspberries then cultivated blackberries.
I followed up a tip from the "Gardeners World" television programme and I cut all the old foliage from my strawberry plants when they had finished fruiting. This is a brilliant idea that I have never tried before and the plants are looking very healthy for their haircut.
I have grown, lettuces radishes and beet-root and we have enjoyed some very tasty salads. My tomato plants look very healthy and strong and thankfully there is no sign of the dreaded blight :( anywhere on the allotment site so far this year
The over-winter broad beans were good and my french beans also did very well. The runner beans are exceptionally good and as my photographs show, they look very pretty when in flower, as I have two varieties with different colour flowers climbing the canes together.
Margaret has asked me to grow some sweet corn this year and they are growing very well.
This has been a very unusual year for the number of butterflies that are around. I have never seen so many cabbage white butterflies, they are everywhere, on the allotment, in the garden, wherever you look. There are also many beautiful red admirals and peacocks around~~
BUT THESE PESKY CABBAGE WHITES
ARE A DISASTER
I happily wandered on to my allotment one day to find my Cabbages, Sprouts and the rest of my Brassicas covered in yellow and black caterpillars that were munching away on the lovely fresh young green leaves. They were everywhere even eating the leaves of my radishes and turnips~~See the dire photographs below to try to empathise with my feelings of total shock and horror at this cabbage white butterfly mayhem.
Declaring war, I sought eradication advice from all quarters.
Chemicals and sprays are absolutely out of the question for an organic gardener like myself. My allotment neighbour, was also suffering and fighting the good fight.
"Pick em off put them on the floor and squash em"~~ I decided against accepting this advice on the grounds of the thought of millions of distasteful squashed caterpillar bodies all over the place. The final chosen remedy, was a bucket of thousands of drowned caterpillars deposited on my compost heap~~~~~~~~~Slaughter!!
I am now hoping that my plants will get over this terrible shock and grow some new edible leaves.
BUT THESE PESKY CABBAGE WHITES
ARE A DISASTER
I happily wandered on to my allotment one day to find my Cabbages, Sprouts and the rest of my Brassicas covered in yellow and black caterpillars that were munching away on the lovely fresh young green leaves. They were everywhere even eating the leaves of my radishes and turnips~~See the dire photographs below to try to empathise with my feelings of total shock and horror at this cabbage white butterfly mayhem.
Declaring war, I sought eradication advice from all quarters.
Chemicals and sprays are absolutely out of the question for an organic gardener like myself. My allotment neighbour, was also suffering and fighting the good fight.
"Pick em off put them on the floor and squash em"~~ I decided against accepting this advice on the grounds of the thought of millions of distasteful squashed caterpillar bodies all over the place. The final chosen remedy, was a bucket of thousands of drowned caterpillars deposited on my compost heap~~~~~~~~~Slaughter!!
I am now hoping that my plants will get over this terrible shock and grow some new edible leaves.
THE MASSED RANKS OF THE ENEMY ACTUALLY GOBBLING UP MY VEG
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