The sun shone today and although it was still very cold, we worked for hours in the allotment, weeding and chopping up prunings from the currant bushes. I cleared the area outside the fruit cage which is going to be a pollinators border, full of flowers, probably in purple (Verbena) white (Cosmos) and green. Watch this space. The lovely Mr S worked inside the cage.
Weeding
Along the walk up the lane from the allotment there was this lovely Primrose plant growing in the hedge
The connection failed in our lovely Kokopelli doorbell and now it is fixed (by the lovely Mr S) and it works just perfectly again.
commonprose
February 21, 2021 at 6:38 pm
As we begin to have warmer days here and there, I will get out and start cutting back the achillea, penstemons, and other perennials, and prune the Russian sage, Nanking cherries, sumac, and rabbitbrush. So much work and not always rewarding in our drought-stricken state of Arizona.
mybeautfulthings
February 23, 2021 at 11:27 am
I think gardens are hard work wherever we garden but drought must make it all that much harder.
Ark
February 19, 2021 at 2:51 pm
I’ve been refurbishing a few raised beds dans le jardin in preparation for my next crop of taters.
I loathe weeding and found that putting down a thick layer of mulch helps keep the perishing weeds to a minimum. My back isn’t what it used to be either so the less bending I have to do the better!
mybeautfulthings
February 19, 2021 at 3:45 pm
The weeding has been a real chore! We have been clearing the ground on our ‘new’ allotment. It had been neglected for two years so needed a real clearout. It shouldn’t ever need such work again! We cleared plot 36B and were then offered the bigger plot 30A with the fruit cage and went for it. We are staying put whatever else we might be offered now that we have proved ourselves to be excellent weed clearers! 🙂
Ark
February 19, 2021 at 4:19 pm
The allotment seems such a quaint English tradition. Tish Farrell over at https://tishfarrell.com/ lives at Much Wenlock, and she has one.
My Grandad on my mum’s side, who lived in Royston, had one, too, and grew all sorts of things, though I never visited it as a nipper.
I’ve arrived very late to the idea of growing a bit of fruit and veg and, beleive it or not, I was inspired to have a go after watching Matt Damon grow potatoes on Mars in the movie The Martian.
We are fortunate that there’s enough dirt on our stand that I can dig my taters and a few other veg without having to venture off the property. In fact we haven’t had to buy potatoes from the supermarket since the beginning of December last year! … ooh aarh, my ‘andsome!
mybeautfulthings
February 23, 2021 at 11:36 am
I’ll go and visit Tish… Brilliant production of taters! Tasty Cornish ones are easy to come by here so we’ll be growing other things though I do love the special taste of a freshly dug spud with butter and chopped mint! 🙂
Ark
February 23, 2021 at 12:53 pm
I forgot about the mint. I must mention it to the boss when she next does a roast or jacket taters.
I’m sure you and Tish will get on like a house on fire.
Our Growing Paynes
February 18, 2021 at 8:17 pm
I can’t wait for spring to get out in the garden. I look forward, when we move back, to be able to garden in winter!
mybeautfulthings
February 23, 2021 at 11:38 am
We long for Spring too. The ground is so wet at the moment but at least we can weed our new allotment and then hope for decent planting weather. Moving back? Where? When? 🙂
Our Growing Paynes
February 23, 2021 at 2:53 pm
We will be moving back next year to Dorset. Going to be a big step but we’re excited.
mybeautfulthings
February 23, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Quite a move! All the very best to you and yours for this new adventure. 🙂
Our Growing Paynes
February 23, 2021 at 4:20 pm
Thank you so much!