Spring, Spring, Spring

Spring is here, the clocks have changed, we're on our way out of lockdown and we found this bowl of a clay pipe on the allotment. We haven't found anything for 'the allotment museum' for ages (in fact, I need to re-find the museum!). It's probably late 19th/early 20th century so not that old but still interesting.

And here's a classic Spring sight on our plot. Lovely grape hyacinths.

Jamie and I started a new project last week. I had Thursday off work, so we started work on the HAHA Wildlife Plot

In normal times it would have been a fun job for a work party. There's still a lot more to be cleared but not bad for two long days of work. We wouldn't have wanted the sun out but it may have been less exhausting if it wasn't blowing a gale on both days - oh, and if I hadn't been mainly sitting on my butt for the last year!!

Much as we'd like the site to have a pond, it's better for individual plots to have small ponds at the moment due to the ever-present lease which doesn't allow us to have a pond plot. There was also the concern of accidents and covering it with a strong enough grill detracts from the appeal somewhat.

So we decided to convert the pond into a bog garden and the rest of that plot will be a wildlife plot - with wildflowers and other wildlife-friendly plants. It already has the bug hotel, which needs to be refurbished and now it has a compost bin and stone piles for solitary bees.

We've re-planted a few plants that were already there, like this Jacobs Ladder, cowslips,  forget-me-nots and a couple of iris. 

Plus one of the buddleja that I grew from a cutting ("a cutting from my sister" I was going to say, that doesn't sound right!!) and some Snakes Head Fritillary that were reduced in the Garden Centre. We also have some bog plants on order from Bakker.

Now, I hope you'll agree that the empty plot, which is prone to horsetail, looks better though rather empty at the moment. However, what we didn't bank on was the number of frogs in that pond. There must have been 50 or more quite small frogs. There was no frogspawn so we thought we had timed it ok but we're not so sure now. Anyway, the 4 little ponds around the site now have new residents but we hope the bog garden works and the frogs should appreciate that damp area to at least visit...

Our own plots are just waiting a little longer before we get down to some proper planting. But we're happy to see the shallots on Plot3 have sprouted. And the celeriac at home have germinated - though they are the weakest little things at the moment; too small even for my macro camera to focus on.

So, this week we're expecting two hot days - yay! I've booked two 2-hour lunches :-) And then, over Easter, the weather is going to turn Wintry again :-( Well, that's disappointing but not so surprising, it's what British weather does after all... But the hedgerow is coming to life and the path nearest the hedge is covered in wild white violets (they may well be Common Dog Violets as there is no scent at all) which look very pretty.

And the wallflowers are in full colour on our plot - so glad I stuck them in the ground a couple of years ago, rather than disposing of them.

The song title is from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - what a wholly inappropriate film for the 21st Century! Well, I guess it was acceptable in the '50s..!