Clairesallotment's Blog

I finished tiding the back garden this morning, everything has been trimmed and weeded, and is ready for Spring to arrive. I also planted some garlic bulbs. I started them in 3 inch pots in general multi purpose compost, and they’re in a tray in the greenhouse. Hopefully it won’t be long before they start to sprout and when the weather gets a bit more favourable and I’ve got a bit of time to spare I’ll pop them in the allotment. The new season is nearly upon us, yippee!!

Firstly I want to say “Happy Birthday” to my nephew Chris who is 20 today. Makes me feel very old to have a nephew of that age.
I’ve just had the perfect Sunday afternoon. I spent the whole afternoon in the garden having a good tidy, and getting bits ready for Spring and Summer. I’ve not finished it all yet, but had to stop as the sun went down and I’d end up cutting my fingers with my snippy snaps rather than the plants. I’ve got loads done, more than I thought I would, hopefully I’ll be able to do some more tomorrow, then it’s the big tidy of the greenhouse before the sowing begins!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 23,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 9 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

I’m going to do this now, just incase I can’t do it before the end of the year.
I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. All the very best in 2012. Let’s hope our vegetable grow to super sizes and the rain comes when we want and the sun shines when we need it.
Thank you very much for all your support throughout this year, and there will be more videos and blogging next year. If you haven’t finished your Christmas turkey and eaten all your Christmas cake yet, don’t worry you can always take some down the allotment with you.
With lot of love
Claire

I’ve just come in from tidying the front garden ready for Christmas and I was pleased to see my resident frog again. You may remember I first saw him in early September and he gave me the fright of my life when he hopped out. I was only wearing flip flops at the time. This time however, I was in my trainers, and was half expecting to see him anyway. I left some extra leaves for him to hide under, just incase it gets cold at night. What it is about my garden he likes I don’t know, there is no water source nearby, but it is a damp corner.
Just incase I don’t have time in the next few days, I just want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2011. Drink too much, eat too much, and have loads of fun. I know I will.
Love Claire

Yes, I know it’s been a while, but nothing much has been going on. Except today, Stephen, our allotment chairman is doing a course about photography and media stuff, and wanted to do a video of me gardening. How could I refuse! We started at 10am, and were done by 10.30am. I dug up Jerusalem Artichokes, which I’ll put in with some chicken tomorrow evening. They’re looking great, I dug up some whoppers! After filming, I also harvested some Chard, and some parsnips. I then went on to deliver a load of chocolate!!!!

What a perfect afternoon, Emily was in her bedroom playing, George was playing badminton in the rain out in the square, and I was in the greenhouse picking all the remaining chillies and tomatoes. What could be better.

It was MANURE DAY!!! at the allotment today. Stephen hired a tipper truck, and with the fantastic help from Emily and Malcolm, they managed to get loads of truck loads on site. Also a massive thanks to Seymour for supplying us with the “black gold”. It was quite amusing to watch as the truck emptied its load, allotment holders swarmed round it like bees to a hive. Within 10 minutes the pile had completely gone, and they lined up their wheel barrows for the next load. I was there for just over 4 hours, weeding in between drop offs, and chatting to plot holders about various things. The weather was wonderful, and everyone seemed very happy. I then went off to ring for a wedding, still dressed in my allotment gear, minus the wellies. Whether there’s anything left on site I don’t know, but I doubt it. Well done everyone for helping in all the little ways that you did.