Summer 2007

Well I don't think we need to worry about a water shortage this year, good grief.  We came back after a few days away in May to find the garden had shot up about six feet.  Some good signs though, a fantastic crop of top fruit has set this year and I have had to thin all the apples and pears.  The vegetable garden produced a great crop of salads which until the rains I didn't have to share with our mollusc friends.  I have picked broad beans, early potatoes (red Duke of York), onions, garlic, leaf beet, raspberries, strawberries and rhubarb.  Next are the currants, black, red and white and gooseberries.  Globe artichokes are looking fantastic and much larger than last year.

The roses were fantastic (briefly) and the clematis are looking a picture.  However bindweed is trying to romp over everything.

The meadow after quite a late mowing (April) is looking well with good stands of Meadow Cranesbill popping up all over and meadow vetchling (yellow pea) putting on a good show. 

Plant of the Month - Rhubarb Chard

This is a wonderful plant which just keeps going in the kitchen garden.  Last summers has only just been dug up and fed to the voracious hens.  This years has run to seed a bit but the colours are just spectacular.  Use as a spinach substitute.  Also pictured is the meadow which shows the progress the apple trees are making.  Put in as whips in 2002 they are now beginning to make good trees. The one in the middle of the picture is Winter Gem which has set fruit for the first time this year.  I mulch the bottoms of the trees with the clippings from the grass paths to cut down competition from other plants.