That's more like it

Had a lovely day on the plot on Sunday, the sunshine bought a lot of people out and the site was really busy working there bit. The birds seem to be getting through a lot of seed and nuts at the moment and seems that there are a lot of them pairing up so hope fully the nest box will be well used this year.
The bluebells are getting bigger and look like that they will soon be in bloom.

 Have decided to let the grass grow round the pond and keep the fruit bushes clear there should be a lot of flowers growing round the pond soon.

We have sown some lettuce, radish, spring onions and baby beetroot in our cloche. Have also put in onions,shallots and broad beans next week hope to get carrots and potatoes in. We really love beetroot so hope to have loads in this year, have bought four different varieties.

When we first got the plot we had to cut a small tree down to put up the shed and we used the cut trunk to put our plot number on it but have to re-write the number each year as it fades.We have now been given a posh one with our names on, the old roller we found hidden among the brambles when we cleared the plot, the wagon wheel we bought from a junk shop.

Unusual Big Shiny Thing In The Sky

Well we went to the allotment this Sunday. It was Jim's turn to man the trading shed and I intended to put in some onion sets and sow salad seeds in our cloche non of which happened as I saw people that I had not seen for ages down here so being polite had to chat to them all !!!

Running through the site is the river Beck and we have seen a couple of mallards and moorhens courting so hopefully, as in past years we shall see them nesting. 

We had covered the bay with fleece during the winter and have just removed it. It seems to have survived and has some fresh leaves in the middle just need to prepare the bed that it is in for our beetroot. Someone gave us some leeks, nice to see some fresh veg which comes from the plot, need some ideas how to best use them?

Our Christmas tree that we planted a couple of years ago seems to growing very well. Eight years ago we held a children's party on our plot and have had a giant sunflower which we used as decoration in the shed ever since so as it looks as if spring is on its way I thought that she might like to take the air. She still had a smile on her face.

Hopefully will get lots more underway next week.

Easter Snow

Decided to go to the plot today whatever the weather. The sun came out just before we left but as we arrived and were unlocking the gate, guess what, a few flurrys of snow started. Not to be put off we started work on our plot.Re-planted a current bush that we had been given buy another plot holder and started to dig and clear a strawberry bed that we shall be using for something else, and topping it with our own compost,got excited as I saw a couple of fat worms.

A fox walked across the plot and our Robin appeared. Heard a lot of commotion and looking up saw a new crows nest in the tree and the crows having an argument with a couple of magpies.Last year the crows bought the babies to our bird bath and dropped bread and sausages into it to soften it up for them.The bird bath,water tank and pond were frozen so broke up the ice and re-filled with fresh

 water. Here is a picture of the daffodils which are really struggling at the moment along with the very last crocus.

Update

 New bird table, my eight year old log pile seems to be home to loads of insects.

 Have been breaking the ice on the pond often recently still waiting for our first frogs though.

 Normally take down bean canes but going to replace this year with long straight plum tree runners.

Managed to get to the plot last week between the snow, rain, hail and a bit of sunshine. I can take any weather but strong winds do not agree with me. The day that the sun shone I was able to do a high cut on the grass and put a bird table that I bought at wilkinsons for a tenner in among the plum trees. We have only had hanging feeders before so hopefully this will attract different species. I have seen lots of long tailed tits on the feeders, a bird that we have not had before and it looks like our replacement nest box is going to be used as a great tit entered it last week. When we put up the first box it took two years before any bird nested in it. Last year we had robins nesting in our shed so fingers crossed it might happen again. 

Still waiting for the daffodils to flower, a few buds but no flowers yet. We have a coffee and seed swap morning next weekend and we are making plum cake and gooseberry cake with our fruit from last year which we have in the freezer.

More Rain

Everyone complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it.  - Charles Dudley Warner.

Crocus

Now that the pictures seem to work this is our first flowers of the year on the plot. We will post others during the year as and when they appear. These crocus were planted a few years ago but is the first time in ages that they have flowered. The next should be our daffodils and bluebells but hopefully won't be to long before we have flowers on our veg.

Pictures from computer

Managed finally to get a card reader from PC World this morning. Trying this as a test for future posts so hope that it works.

A Sunny Sunday At Last

We went to the plot today and spent about three hours working. It was a bit windy but at least the sun was shining and as soon as we arrived our robin was there to greet us. We took some food for the birds that we had made ourselves from lard ,peanuts and raisins it was left to set overnight and I smeared it all around the branches of some of our plum trees, the birds loved it.

We have a couple of raised beds which have had strawberries in and we have decided to get rid of one and use it for winter cabbages, I don't think that we have ever managed to take any strawberries home as Barbara tests them all first as she picks them.

Managed to do a fair bit of hoeing and cleared some debris from our pond, would love to see some frogs use it this year.

Each year we try to do a new project and have decided to take pictures of all flowers that appear on the plot. Today we photographed our first of the year which was crocus and will post pictures as soon as I get this lead for the camera.Hope to visit the plot a few times early this week before the weather turns again.

Why does it always rain on me

More and more rain today. I wonder when the hosepipe ban will start this year?

Bird Watch

Have just sent the results from our birdwatch to RSPB. We saw eight different species on the plot but shame we could not count species that were flying past as it would have added a few more. Really wanted the pheasant to turn up but no luck there, hope that the fox didn't catch up with him. The weather forecast said it would be milder today but was greeted by a heavy ground frost when I arrived on the plot. Did a bit of tidying, had the Robin following me everywhere as I was raking some leaves he was having a feast. The weather forecast has been rubbish lately so in future I am just going to look out of the window and decide for myself what the day holds.

We went to the site today to pay our annual rent. As we have two plots we pay more than most but it is worth every penny. Next time I have to pay I shall be an old age pensioner ( hate the sound of that) so will get a big reduction in the cost.  We were greeted as usual by the robin and found a fox sniffing around our shed. I topped up the feeder and hung up a fat ball but next week will have ago at making my own with some suet and porridge oats. Really getting desperate to get sowing and growing, but did notice the garlic showing and the rhubarb seems to be coming to life.

The Compost Song

For ages Barbara has been obsessed with sorting out our compost heaps. She has been trying to get me to help her turn them and use it on the plot but I have been putting it of for ages. The compost now is about five years old and is really good so a few weeks ago we started to sort it and use it.I found this video on You Tube and not only does it look like Barbara it shows how enthusiastic she gets about the stuff. By the way I do not appear in any of the film.

Went to the beautiful Kelsey Park in Beckenham to feed the birds with a loaf of Mr Warburtons finest brown seeded. I was soon surrounded by all sorts of ducks,geese,pigeons and gulls. The blackheaded gulls are just beginning to get there black heads so spring must be on its way. The most impressive of the ducks was the Mandarin which is really spectacular. The swans also let the Canada geese know who was boss. I then went to check my feeders on the allotment and all the suet pellets that I hung up yesterday had gone but still a big pile of seeds left.

Going on a march tomorrow in support of Lewisham Hospital which is in danger of losing its A&E department and maternity unit. This hospital is dear to my heart as not only does Barbara work there but they have looked after me during my heart problems. Sunday will be at the plot for my RSPB bird count.

Just my luck

Really started to get in the swing over the last couple of weeks. I have retired and Barbara had two weeks holiday. We spent quite a few hours on the plot and I was able to coppice all the plum runners that I had been meaning to do for ages. Barbara spent time sorting out our compost heaps and we have loads of good stuff which has spent a few years rotting down. Now it is covered in snow and put a stop to groundwork.

We have been feeding the birds and we have put up a new bird box. We have had great tits nesting in our old one for the last six years and last year a robin nested in our shed, I will put pictures on here when I can sort the camera out. We are taking part in the RSPB  bird watch at the weekend so will let you know how many species we see on our plot. Last week we had a pheasant on site which was chased by a fox.We thought that he would fly away but he just ran as fast as he could, he had a head start on the fox and managed to escape.