We’ll I plugged in the cable this morning, and lo and behold there they were a lovely little clutch of eggs staring back at me. There must have been about 8 or so. So it must be about a week or so away from them hatching. Apparently they incubate for about 14-16 days. Had a fantastic day at “Go Ape” yesterday. It’s George’s birthday on Tuesday and he’ll be 11, so this was his birthday treat. If you like climbing about on ropes and aren’t scared of heights I’d recommend it. But make sure you wear messy clothes as you’ll get a bit dirty.
Another beautiful day on the plot, but the rain is coming in tonight and then it’s going to turn much colder. We do need the rain as the soil is getting very hard. But despite that I managed to dig nearly another bed and got a few bean poles up. I think I’m going to have to go and buy some rome 8ft poles as I’ve not got many. But that’s not an emergency as the beans won’t get planted out until the beginning of June. We’ve had a bit of manure delivered on site, so I got a bit and put some round the strawberries and gooseberry bushes, so hopefully the worms will do their job and take it down. As I was digging I missed the fork with my foot and nearly fell head first into the ground. No one saw, so that’s ok. I’ll go and see if anything needs doing in the greenhouse, but first I need to water the front garden. I’ve now got my Butt Pump out and am using grey water to water the garden with.
Tulips enjoying the April sunshine.
I’ve got yellow and red tulips in my garden, and over the past few days they’ve slowly been opening. This morning they were open all the way, so I hope you like the picture. When the tulips are flowering summer is not far away.
Well I thought I saw one late yesterday, but wasn’t too sure. But this morning it’s a definite. I can see 2 eggs in my nesting box!! I’m so excited as I’m sure you can imagine. There may be more hiding underneath the nesting, as they tend to hide them. I’ve taken some footage so hopefully Mark can put it up soon. I’ll keep you posted.
Well I was busy this afternoon in the greenhouse. Lots of seedlings needed to be potted up, so armed with 3 inch pots, compost and a watering can I ploughed through. I did make a couple of films in the process as the Chop Suey Greens and the Oriental Stir Fry which include “Mizuna Japanese Greens”, “Chinese Mustard Giant Red” and “Tatsoi Yukina Savoy” were all ready for the next stage. I then glanced round and noticed that my Golden Dawn Courgettes were ready for their individual pots and also my Spaghetti Squash. It’s all looking good, and growing well.
This morning I was a busy bee up the allotment. Firstly I finished digging the bed where the carrots were going in. I’ve sown “Rainbow F1 Hybrid” and “Cosmic Colour Collection”. Then I had a little space left, so I sowed another line of “Jutrzenka” Radish. It’s getting to the stage where the ground is getting dry, so as I’m going along, I’m watering various beds, then covering them with a thin layer of horse manure. Lots of my little seedlings are coming up now, my sugar snaps, salsify and radish just to mention a few. I then dug over what used to be a small path to put in 3 good sized Gooseberry bushes that my sister gave me. When planting them in the ground it was necessary to wear my sunglasses as the thorns and branches are long and prickly. That makes 5 gooseberry bushes I have now, so hopefully I’ll get loads of fruit to make loads of jam. It’s all starting to take shape now, which is great. It’s been another glorious day down in the SE, 19 degrees. Sorry if it’s not as good where you live, but we’re due rain on friday.
There I was this morning at 7.30am at the kitchen sink sorting out the kids drinks for their school lunches, when along came the male coal tit. He sat on my neighbours tree and chirped away until the female in the nesting box stuck out her head, and after a about a minute she emerged and they flew off together. I thought it very romantic. Her very own alarm clock, but I think she’d have wanted to have had a bit more of a doze. Anyway off they went, and later on, off went the rest of my household, so I pootled down to the allotment and got busy myself. I dug another bed and planted all 22 of my shallots. Just the carrots to go in, which should be tomorrow. Another beautiful day the car said 20 degrees, and I was digging in just my t-shirt (obviously I had leggings on). It was even too hot for my wellies, so tomorrow I may have to wear my trainers.
Well I finished digging the bed that the onions were in, and got the last 46 in, so that’s them all in. Just the shallots to go now, which will have to be tomorrow. But I’ve got to turn the bed over before I plant them. It’s getting there, slowly but surely, but I’ve got to do something to keep myself out of mischief.
Well I was in the greenhouse this morning potting up various flower seedlings, when my little birds appeared again with nesting material in their beaks. Once one had gone in, I quickly went inside, turned the TV on and sat and watched. It was so exciting to see one of them sorting out their nest, and making it all homely. From the lounge you could hear the other one chirping away as it sat on the top of the shed and the other one in the box was chirping back. After a while the one in the box jumped up to the hole, and pecked it, we’re not sure why, and then knocked the camera slightly and then was gone. They’ve been away for the rest of the day now, but they’ll be back later for a sleep.
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