Barnes Allotment

A Folly

It has been a plot day to remember.

It was Julia's first visit and we made some significant leaps of progress.  Not only did we "earth up" the potatoes to prevent them from exposure to sunlight, we bedded in the cabbages and squashes (by surrounding them with warming protective bark chips) and make real progress with clearing the back section of the allotment that had run wild and rugged.

But the all out success of today was the generation of an ornamental wonderland for the gnomes and their friends.  We created a small pond by the fence to attract wildlife and provide a natural habitat for the plastic people.  Twee it is not.

From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked

The last of the carrots came out today and the final spring onions so I dug the bed over.  It's been a productive day at the allotment and a beautiful sunny one as well.  If only this sun had come out before I ripped the final tomatoes up then I might just have been able to save a few more that hadn't been affected by blight.

It feels like new beginnings all over again.  Other than the potatoes and squashes I have nothing growing.

Today I did plant a fig tree that Scott picked up for me in the week and have some blueberries ready for planting when I pick up some ericaceous compost. They will all be espaliered across the bed by the potting shed.

More excitement for today, Cathy too a break from her study Cathy popped down to plant some mixed bulbs in the flower bed.  Hopefully we will see some alliums in the mix.  I also planted some bluebells in one of the pathways.  We await springtime for the results.