Kitchen Garden Forum

Hello, Compo, nice to see you back. Keep it up!

Yes, quite a disturbed night last night with the wind rattling the roof tiles and things on the loose outside. No major damage for us but lots of little branches down and fence panels damaged. Luckily, it's supposed to die down tonight and we can get on with repairs.

Heard the first chiffchaff yesterday. They are usually followed by the willow warblers and swallows within the week, so I shall keep my eyes and ears peeled. The cuckoo doesn't usually appear here until he very end of April or beginning of May.

Well inspection turned up a broken chair in the pond about 30' from where it lives. A trail of dog toys led 50 yards to the orange box they belong in wedged into the fence. Cloche over the Broad Beans was smashed to bits and many plants flattened. Amazingly with sharp bits of broken plastic all round it the tunnel was untouched. Few other things rattled about and daffodils flattened but no glass lost which makes a change.
Reassembled some protection for the beans and I think most will recover but pushed 20 seeds in amongst them just in case. Calmed down quite a lot during the day but still not pleasant and quite a bit cooler.

Evening Compo, lovely to read a post from you, good to see you back

OH , did the concrete arrive? Hope all is going to plan.

Picked my first couple of early rhubarb stalks, stewed with custard...heavenly
Two and a half rows of parsnips in ( thank you Johnboy... All germinated)
Things are looking up

Dear Donedigging, indeed it did, and yes, it is all going to plan, so very pleased. Should be finished this weekend, and that includes all the extra little jobs that always seem to want doing.

Thank you for asking, you thoughtful personm, you.

Heard the Cuckoo today, i think that is about a week earlier than last year!

So long since I've heard one. What's it sound like

Very nice, and a welcome sound.

I saw a bee in my garden today, the first I've seen all year. thought they might all be dead

We had a local beekeeper install one of his bee-hives on our allotments last year. Been told non survived the winter.

Seeing more swallows flying over down here on the island so should be with you up country any time soon.

MW

Three lovely spring happenings:
- lots of (pipistrelle?) bats flying last night
- two small tortoiseshell and one peacock butterfly in the garden today
- a reed bunting in full breeding colours on the bird feeder today whilst the bramblings are still about, also beautifully coloured. The reed buntings tend to come off the moor when the seeds have completely run out, but the bramblings will be off soon to their northern breeding grounds.

Nearly forgot - also did a lot of gardening!

Keep those swallows coming MW! It's a wonderful sound hearing them all screeching in the sky as they arrive back. It's almost as if they're celebrating being back in their familiar breeding surroundings and calling out "We're here! We're here!". Makes you wonder whether birds experience the same emotions of excitement that humans do.

I put my tiny tomato seedlings out on the patio to sunbathe for a while today. I swear they grew more than half an inch in the time they were out there

Not gardening today, helping staff the outside bar at my rugby club.

Our 1st XV have won the league and get promoted from National 3 - London & South East.

Highest our club.has ever been and "my" bar ran out of many things, I think the club might have done the same by now and there will be many sore heads tomorrow

I found a bee today not unusual but I was 4 miles out at sea on my boat fishing

A good number of butterflies about today.....including this Peacock on an Elephant's Ear.

Small Tortoiseshells and Brimstones too.

Our regular visiting butterfly photographer also spotted a Comma ,

...Vales Emerald and Lady Christl Potatoes planted. "Radeo" Peas, Sugarsnax54 and Romance Carrots sown, Runner Bean poles errected. Gladioli planted.

Clive.