Flighty's plot

It’ll be a few weeks before I start planting and sowing many of the flowers, herbs and vegetables on the plot.

Meantime you can see that the herb patch (on the left) and the vegetable area (the square S shape on its side) have been dug over and are now ready. The light coloured area on the right will be the wild flower bed to attract bees, birds and butterflies. In front of the log pile is the globe artichoke which as you can see has now completely flopped. However I’m assured that it will recover, and if not I’ll be given another one!

This plant was one of the few that I kept from when I started. It died right back during the winter but it’s looking good as it begins to grow again.

Nikki will be pleased to learn that the roses are doing well, particularly the Valentine Heart which already has some small leaves on it , and which is the focal point of what will be her corner of the plot.

Just for the record here are a few of my daffodils which are growing in front of one end of the log.

I’ve transplanted the grape vine into a big green square plastic pot which I got for free as it’s slightly damaged. It looks much better than the round black one it replaces. I’m also going to paint that bright green board a darker shade and add a trellis of some kind.

Talking of bees, last Thursday, which was a fairly warm but overcast day, I’m sure that one buzzed past me! I didn’t see it though as I turned the wrong way. I must ask plot neighbour John when I next see him as he has two beehives on his allotment. I remember last summer when I first saw him donning all his special clothing and wondered what he was doing as at that time I didn’t know that he’s a bee keeper.

[ Click on any of these thumbnail pictures if you want to see a larger image]

The weather forecast for the weekend is wet and windy so it looks like I won’t be doing anything on the plot.

I don’t mind too much as I’ve spent several hours both yesterday and this morning in good weather mostly forking over the herb and vegetable areas. It was still a bit sticky in places which did make it a touch harder than I’d hoped.

Last week when I was there I was standing little more than arms length away from the bird feeders when out of the corner of my eye I noticed the peanut one moving slightly. As I watched one of these delightful little

blue tits appeared from round the back of it. I could have possibly have got the camera and taken a photo of it but for one thing…my hands were very muddy and wet! So I stood there and savoured what had to be a magical moment watching it peck at the peanuts.

Today I was meet by the robin and and a couple of blue tits on the feeders.

As I worked I saw a blackbird, several magpies, two parakeets, some pigeons, a few seagulls and starlings around the site.

At one point I heard several crows cawing away very nosily and as I turned I saw them wheeling around the sky overhead the adjacent ecology park. As I watched I suddenly realised that they were mobbing a magnificent grey heron It circled lower and lower to disappear in the ecology park which does have a fair sized pond. I rarely see herons so for me this was another magical moment!

The only new wildlife programme on terrestrial TV next week is Unknown Africa on Monday BBC2 at 8.00pm. Saba Douglas-Hamilton explores hidden corners of Africa for this new series starting with the Comoro Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Have a good weekend!

I wasn’t going to buy anything at the horticultural society hut this morning apart from peanuts for the birds. However looking round I spotted some bulbs, corms and tubers.

So I got two Dahlia tubers, one each ‘Bishop of Leicester’ and ‘Stolze von Berlin’, just to see how I get on with them. I got ten Gladioli corms, five each of the blue ‘Her Majesty’ and white ‘Amsterdam’. Lastly I got some Tigridia bulbs which include some white ones. I picked up a bundle of ten green 3 foot flower sticks as well which I’m sure I’ll need later on.

The weather was actually quite good with sunny intervals and the wind being not too blowy. On the plot some more crocus are out as are a few daffodils all providing some welcome splashes of colour.

I forked over the part of the vegetable patch which I’m probably going to plant my potatoes in. At the moment they’re in egg boxes on the kitchen table chitting away quite merrily by the look of them. If you’re wondering what I’m talking about then have a look at this Growing Our Own entry.

The birds were notable by their absence today although I could hear them in the nearby bushes and trees. There weren’t many people around either.

Anyway I’m glad I went !

Beautiful blue

and wonderful white

These were taken on the plot earlier today. Click on either to see larger image.

Tomorrow on BBC2 at 8.00pm there is a Gardeners’ World hour long special in which the emphasis is on fruit growing. Monty Don starts planning an orchard of heritage apple, pear and plum varieties.

It was a nice morning so I was on the plot before nine and had the place to myself, with even most of the birds having a lie in.

I’d planted some crocus last autumn and I was greeted by this golden glow.

Aren’t they lovely? There’s more to come, and the daffodils won’t be long either!

Plot neighbour Trevor very kindly gave me this magnificent globe artichoke

which I planted near the log pile. It’s a terrific looking plant and grows quite big so he tells me!

I gave the shed a coat of green wood preservative which I think is a better colour than the shade of biscuit that it was.

The metal trellis will be used to support the Asparagus verticillatus that I’m hoping to grow. This is a hardy climber with feathery foliage and small white flowers followed by small bright red berries. Chiltern Seeds says that it is easily trained for concealing unsightly chain link fences, garden gnomes and the like!

To round off what had been a good few hours just as I was packing up to come home I heard a familiar bird call and turned to see one, two, then several more parakeets flying at low level right over the top of me! Wonderful!