There seems to have been a shortage of butterflies so far this year (although the cabbage whites are keen to lay eggs on my broccoli). However I was pleased to see this in my garden the other day. Its interesting to see how the caterpillars can change into something so attractive.
Author: MTT
Recipe – Grilled Courgette with Parmesan Cheese
This is one of the simplest recipes for using courgettes, getting some of the glut used up. It makes a tasty side-dish to accompany whatever you may be eating. Simply slice the courgettes into piece about 1/2cm thick and put in the oven/under the grill for 10-15 minutes to cook gently/soften. When soft(ish) cover with…… Continue reading Recipe – Grilled Courgette with Parmesan Cheese
2024 – Preparing for a Glut of some vegetables
As I’ve said before, this year has been strange. The cool start to the season meant that many things didn’t germinate when I expected them to (in fact there’s been poor germination throughout). The result was that I sowed some things again and I ended up with more plants than I expected. The second issue…… Continue reading 2024 – Preparing for a Glut of some vegetables
Tomato – Yellow Perfection
A small/medium Yellow Cherry tomato on Regular Leafed Indeterminate plants. Description The description given on the packet is of a “Tasty, heirloom (heritage) cultivar with small golden-yellow fruit so it sounds a bit like one of the many yellow cherry varieties we have grown over the years. We bought the seeds from our local supermarket…… Continue reading Tomato – Yellow Perfection
July 2024 – A Slow Year for Tomatoes
The tomatoes have been sown (early March), potted on, molly coddled when they started and eventually planted out into their final spaces in the greenhouse (early April). However, the cold, dull weather seems to be making it hard work for them to grow on as strongly as I would like. All the indeterminate varieties are…… Continue reading July 2024 – A Slow Year for Tomatoes
Crows & Moss
I mentioned the other day that the crows are having a go at the moss in our “lawn”. Just to prove what they are doing here are a couple of photos and videos. Raked up Moss A wheelbarrow full One Crow working on their own Two crows working harder Now, I don’t know what they…… Continue reading Crows & Moss
2024 – Comma Butterfly
We’ve seen a number of Brimstone Butterlies so far this year but this feels like the earliest I’ve even seen a Comma (as ever all that means is they’ve flitted away before I got sight of them). A brief video of it sat there in the breeze.
2024 – More Flowers
As spring continues, we’re getting yet more flowers showing through. Fritillaria, epimedium, more hybridised primulas, hellebores. The crows are also having a go at our “lawn” again, pulling up the moss. It seems that they’re looking for things to eat underneath rather than nest building. Sowed some lettuces today, hopefully they’l start to produce in…… Continue reading 2024 – More Flowers
2024 – Sown Tomatoes
OK, its a little late this year but I’ve at last got around to sowing my tomatoes for 2024. No new ones this year, I haven’t found any local suppliers who have something different that isn’t an F1 Hybrid. This means I’ve had to sort through my (200+) own varieties and sort out ones that…… Continue reading 2024 – Sown Tomatoes
Spring is Springing – at last
Although I haven’t started looking at my tomato season yet this year, its pleasant to see that the garden is at last breaking into spring. Its still wet and soggy underfoot but the bulbs and plants are starting to show that they like the warmer weather. Spent some time this afternoon tidying and planting strawberry…… Continue reading Spring is Springing – at last