Today was our first visit to the allotment in 2008 - and we are full of anticipation for the coming year - and as excited as ever about the allotment. To be honest, there is not much to do at the moment, but the weather was glorious this afternoon and having just seen eldest son off to university we thought we would trundle along to see what was going on there.
The tame photographer made a sort of edging for the rhubarb as its position that close to the compost heap and shed means that it is often trampled at this time of year when the crowns (note the technical jargon appearing here) hardly show above ground. Hopefully this will ensure they keep safe.
Making the edging wasn't quite as easy as we thought it might be, as the wood kept splitting, but after a short walk to examine how others were making their edging, this seemed to be the most efficient method, and more importantly, did not need any nails. It looks quite impressive, I think.
Also, we thought we would try to force one the the plants and get some early rhubarb. We found this natty little bin in amongst the mounds of 'useful' stuff in our garden shed, and it looks like it might be just the answer- apart from the fact that at some stage in the last 15 years or so we decided to drill holes into it - quite why is lost in the mists of time, but we had to seal up the holes (black plastic and mad max tape (duck tape to normal folk) worked beautifully) and the bucket is now covering one plant. It looks a bit daft in just in front of the compost, but we know why its there, and that, really, is all that matters.
This is the rhubarb, as at 3.00pm this afternoon - definitely looking a little less alien-like than it did last week. And finally, I can report that there is one fewer rat in London today! We found a dead one on the path next to our plot. Not a pretty sight, to be sure, but encouraging to know there are not as many today!
The tame photographer made a sort of edging for the rhubarb as its position that close to the compost heap and shed means that it is often trampled at this time of year when the crowns (note the technical jargon appearing here) hardly show above ground. Hopefully this will ensure they keep safe.
Making the edging wasn't quite as easy as we thought it might be, as the wood kept splitting, but after a short walk to examine how others were making their edging, this seemed to be the most efficient method, and more importantly, did not need any nails. It looks quite impressive, I think.
Also, we thought we would try to force one the the plants and get some early rhubarb. We found this natty little bin in amongst the mounds of 'useful' stuff in our garden shed, and it looks like it might be just the answer- apart from the fact that at some stage in the last 15 years or so we decided to drill holes into it - quite why is lost in the mists of time, but we had to seal up the holes (black plastic and mad max tape (duck tape to normal folk) worked beautifully) and the bucket is now covering one plant. It looks a bit daft in just in front of the compost, but we know why its there, and that, really, is all that matters.
This is the rhubarb, as at 3.00pm this afternoon - definitely looking a little less alien-like than it did last week. And finally, I can report that there is one fewer rat in London today! We found a dead one on the path next to our plot. Not a pretty sight, to be sure, but encouraging to know there are not as many today!
1 comment:
Hello
My name is Susan Harwood.
I'm contacting people who might be interested in my blog - people who list 'the environment' or allotments (!) amongst their interests on their 'blogger's profile'.
I have a new blog called
SHOUTING AT THE RADIO
It is concerned with the environment, building, architecture, politics and education.
It can be found at
http://shoutingattheradio.blogspot.com/
It is in its very early stages just yet - so comments will be especially welcome!
Yours sincerely
Susan Harwood
P.S. I was taking a look at your blog, deciding whether to leave this comment, when my husband leant over my shoulder, saw the photos of your edging and immediately said he needed to do some like that but wasn't sure he could. So we've put you on favourites so he can copy your work!
S.H.
Post a Comment