Brambling

The bird on the right is called a Brambling. As far as I can tell, it once featured on a stamp in Belgium and very little else.

Despite this lack of distinction, Spouse was so excited that he phoned me at work to inform me that two of them were in the garden.

I'm so glad I didn't drop everything and dash home.

Showtime

Mr Forge has revealed that the Bodenham Gardening Club host an annual veg growing competition every August.

I can feel a whole new marrow coming on.

Crack Den

Meanwhile, in our kitchen come crack den, Mel and I divided seeds into lines in order to double our stash.

I am very envious of Mel's big seed box.

Construction Gets Underway

Two years ago on Allotment 21, Steve and Spouse decided that it was not necessary to read the instructions when constructing a greenhouse.

Nothing has changed.

Delivery

I was informed that we have the second narrowest gateway that this lorry has ever got through.

The flat-packed greenhouse looks disconcertingly like a coffin.

The Greenhouse Commeth

The Greenhouse should arrive today so I have booked the day off work. Remembering how long it took Spouse to build the last greenhouse I have photoshoped a picture to see what it should look like.

Yipee! Am already planning the soft fruit bed behind it.

Treecreeper

Spot the treecreeper that frequents the katsura tree outside the office window.

Greenhouse Base

I'm impressed. They have done a really good job digging out the slope to create a level base. The entire plan has now changed and the finished result will look a lot more rustic (cheap) but will probably fit much better with the rest of the garden.

The Digger...

As Man-with-Digger will cost too much and the greenhouse will be delivered this week, Husband-of Sister with a hired Digger came to the rescue. He and Spouse attacked the slope together today. I was so worried, I had to finish work while it was daylight in order to check up on them...

Rhubarb Moving

The huge rhubarb lives right where the new patio will go and had to be moved this weekend. It should do well up at the top end of the veg plot with lots of manure dressing around it.

As the leaves are poisonous, I am hoping to grow plenty to shove down the suspected rat hole. There is even a rhubarb site that tells me how many leaves will kill a lab rat. Wonder if that will ever be a pub quiz question?

Shall I Compare Thee

To a "stuck cow" according to Spouse who watched me sink to within an inch of my welly tops in a flooded, plowed field this afternoon.

It's far too wet to garden and far too wet to walk over plowed fields.

Plans on Hold

Damn and Drat!

The Building Work is costing more than I thought and my garden cash will be consumed by a central heating system or some other dull necessity. This means no beautiful terraced beds in 2008.

Luckily, I have already paid for a greenhouse and I will just have to cultivate this slope until I can save enough for the sleepers.

Leeks

The Veg Plot leeks are doing really well, they taste delicious.

The cottage leaks are also doing well in this wet wild weather and our pans are being put to good use catching them.

Plans!

They are not a work of art but in order to pacify Spouse, I have produced a plan for my terraced beds. I have given this to our Man-with-Digger along with the picture and he will get back to us with a price.

I hope he can start soon - what I haven't told Spouse is that I have a load of asparagus on order plus enough seeds to fill an area three times the size!

Carrot Movie

Godchild (age 9) has taken up the animated Veg movie torch...