Bits and bobs No16 Spring.

[peter]

At last an April shower.

Had to come on the day I was re-roofing the underpinned and extended allotment shed, those two jobs having been respectively, done and started on Saturday.

Now aching at my desk, so many screws to put in when re-using corrugated clear plastic.

[oldherbaceous]

It's going to be a warm one for some of us today.

[Geoff]

Very pleasant already for us late risers. Hope to finish digging the Courgette, Squash, Pumpkin and Gourd bed today with its large helping of compost.

[Monika]

It's been a lovely day here, too, almost like summer. The climbing French beans Blauhilde, dwarf beans Maxi and runner beans Lady Di are now sown into roottrainers (it's not worth sowing them earlier because we can't risk planting them out until about 10 June), but most of the peas and broad beans are in the ground. I also sowed the first carrots (Nandor) under anti-carrot fly netting and beetroot Monika into the open ground.

I am going to sow some peas Show Perfection at the beginning of June to try to get them just right for our local show on 4 September. It seems awfully late, but usually our peas have long finished at the time of the show.

We could do with some rain (have not had any since early April) but I don't think there is much in the offing and - watch out, gardeners! - next week it is supposed to be quite a bit colder.

The blackthorn bushes are a sight with their thousands of white blossoms!

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Monika, i agree about the Blackthorn bushes, they are absolutely splendid this year.

There's a big old yellow moon hanging up there in the sky tonight, a lovely sight indeed.

[peter]

Alright for some, I'be been shut in Earls Court from 8am to 4pm at a trade show and before & after enjoying National Express trains and the Tube.

When I got home I felt dirtier than after my allotment shed rebuilding antics on Sunday.

[oldherbaceous]

Morning Peter, how are the sheds coming along, by the way?

Looks as if it's going to be another lovely day for working outside.

[peter]

Now then OH, just how did you know I was going back again today?

Now stuck in a queuing train outside Liverpool St, "track circuit fault".

[oldherbaceous]

The lovely sound of bird song, the warmth of the sun and a pleasant breeze of fresh country air.

And where i'm working this morning, i always get freshly baked cake, and i'm not joking.

[cherrystone]

Well think of us up here where it is blowing a hooley and raining, the temp is just about 10! Looks like a shopping day.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Cherrystone, you will be in my thoughts regarding the weather, but just to cheer you up, the cold weather is heading our way. It will be quite a shock to the system, as it's 23c out there at the moment.

[oldherbaceous]

I planted my saved, Radeo (radio), tall, late pea seed a couple of weeks ago, it's come through with out hardly a miss.
It also looks very strong, even at this early stage.

Here's hoping for another good year with them.

Thankyou Clive and Mum and Dad.

[Clive.]

The Peas are up here well too Old H'...and at work.. with the second short row there sown on Friday...

Hope to get some sticks at the earlier Early Onward today...

Clive.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Catherine, i do hope you have a splendid holiday, i think you deserve it after all the stress you went though a couple of months ago.

We will keep our eyes on things for you.

[oldherbaceous]

Just noticed Seedling is on-line, how exciting.