Honeywort

A self seeded Cerinthe Major was stunning back in May so today I have harvested the seeds to try and grow some more.

Handy for if I get some bees!

Slug Massacre

Although Italians use slug mucus to treat warts and acne, I have neither, nor have I any beans or salad crops because of them.

Now the rain has stopped, the slug traps have finally worked. I emptied them this morning with macabre glee.

Alliums

Thinking ahead for the new meadow border, I have ordered 75 alliums from J Parkers. Given the planting area, am thinking I should order a few more....

Spouse get an App

Imagine my surprise when running into ex-Spouse on the weekend, he proudly shows me his new garden app on his i-phone.


Wonders will never cease.

Munstead Wood

A wander round Hampton Court gardens today confirmed that I need to spend a small fortune on Munstead Wood roses, first spotted on The Queen's barge.

Must go and visit the actual garden while I'm at it....

They're back....

No wonder the RHS describe them as the "lily growers’ nemesis." I took great delight in squishing these prospective parents!

More Meadow...

While the veg plot has been ravaged by slugs, the meadow bed gets better every day!

Ravaged Beans

My second lot of beans have been ravaged. I suspect the thriving slug population as the beer traps have been washed out in all the rain.

Am SO temped to buy pellets but will start sneaking about with a jar full of salt....

Meadow

Despite the rain, the much maligned meadow has come into its own this last week. Colour, more colour and even more on the way.

All for approx £16.

Result!

Plant Rescue

Bro-in-law has moved house. There is an allotment sized veg plot which he has rotavated and grassed over...

Deciding that the garden is wasted on him, I 'rescued' some cuttings and am trying to root them in the glasshouse.

Rebus left a 'gift' on the new lawn by means of payment!

Beans, beans, beans

Better late than never my beans have been planted out.

A Guardian Facebook Gardener is already cropping her borlotti beans so I have quite a bit of catching up to do.

Happy Birthday Sister

The Jane Magnolia is still in flower on Sister's birthday so I shared a glass of wine with her to celebrate.

The Mole Returns

The Mole is back, same place, same time of the year.

Feargal and Rebus are on red alert.

?

This one's tiny but spread throughout the meadow border.

Again, no idea what it is!

More Guessing

This one is spread throughout the border. It's small, very pretty up close and I have no idea what it is. Suggestions welcome!

Guess the plant

My meadow border is finally coming into flower. According to the website, the flowers should include; Shirley Poppy, Californian Poppy, Cornflower, Fairy Toadflax, Red Flax, Bishop’s Flower, Tickseed and Corn Marigold, Black-eyed Susan, Red Orache and Larkspur.

This is the first flower and it looks suspiciously like rapeseed from the neighbouring fields.

Warts

Shame I haven't any warts as in the Netherlands, folk lore says that rubbing the velvet insides of broad bean pods on a wart will remove it.

I'll stick to eating the beans.

Glyphosate

Despite a liberal coating of glyphosate, my dock leaves are still thriving.

Useful for the nettles, also thriving.

Bean Feast

Note to Self: Always sow beans in the glasshouse. When sown direct, mice and cold will get to them.

Although late, I still hope to be scoffing borlotti beans before the year is out!

Asparagus quiche with smoked salmon

The asparagus and chives are cropping well which, combined with the plentiful  eggs make fantastic individual quiches.

I am the envy of the office lunch brigade!