0532/2031

I have to admit I'm getting slightly tired of all this rain. It seems every time I go out I get soaked. Today I spent my lunchbreak dodging puddles and sheltering under trees.



In my wet weather walks, though, I've spotted rings of mushrooms and I've seen some amazing wild flowers - they can be quite dramatic when they all bloom at the same time. There are meadows full of cowslips near my home (see my previous post), and masses of garlic mustard, which I don't think I've ever seen in such lush abundance! I've also been noticing subtle differences in the way various leaves reflect the light - some give off a blue tint, others seem to glow a bright yellow-green. The contrasts in the fields and hedgerows are strong at this time of year, and even more striking after the rain.


Ground ivy


Hemlock


Silverweed

0537/2026

I think the cowslips were actually glowing, not just reflecting the light this evening.

0612/1958

I love my allotment. Today I noticed flowers on my strawberries and redcurrant bushes. I sowed a single courgette seed under a cloche. I weeded and chopped. I watched red kites soaring overhead, heard lots of scuffling and squeaking in the long grass, photographed a lizard and accidentally dug up a shiny green beetle.

Lizards are amusing little creatures. They know I'm watching - they cock their heads on one side to keep an eye on me but still let me get really close before they scuttle away. It's a pleasure to share my plot with them :)



This is my wildlife stick-heap, the lizard I saw today was sunbathing on it. For some reason I really like this photo! I know it's just a pile of sticks.

0648/1931 Cherry blossom

0655/1926 Notes from today

Saw: butterflies (a peacock, a tortoiseshell, a white one). A goldfinch who lives near me.
Leaves unfurling: apples, brambles, raspberries, hops, gooseberries.
Flowering: bluebells, pak choi, alexanders, gage (nearly).
Excited about: rhubarb, strawberries, walking onions.
Might be dead: bay tree, kumquats.
Sowed: beetroot, lettuce, mini sunflowers, the contents of the bottom of my seed tin.
Re-potted: chilli. Also potted up the mint I rescued from a very alcoholic cocktail in a bar.
Picked: nettles, but left some for the ladybirds (who are in love). Also ground elder and sorrel.
Could have picked: parsley, chives, rosemary, thyme.
Tested: my foraging apron. It was a gift from the lovely and very talented Claire Smith.
Most happy about: British Summer Time :)

Equinox

This is a solargraph. It's essentially a very long exposure pinhole photograph showing the sun's path through the sky from winter solstice (lowest) to spring equinox (highest). It's my first attempt and although it didn't quite go to plan (it was supposed to be landscape!) I'm just glad it worked - three months is a long time to wait for a result!

0624/1804

It's finally light enough to visit the allotment after work, and warm enough to eat my lunch outside in the sunshine.

I've just had a weekend of catching up (or attempting to at least!). I got lots of work done on the plot - it almost looks under control. I'm looking forward to a year of fruit, herbs and leaves (all low maintenance you see). There may also be the odd bean and perhaps the occasional beetroot...

All of a sudden it feels like spring, and there are plenty of wild plants to gather. I spotted some early hop shoots down by the river last week, although the ones on my allotment have yet to make an appearance. There are nettles and other green leaves in abundance now, and the first flowers are beginning to bloom. I love the plum and blackthorn blossom which is everywhere at the moment - if you see white or pink candyfloss trees remember to check them later in the year for potential harvests of fruit!

I picked some gorse flowers yesterday - I was originally considering making wine but I didn't have the motivation to pick enough for that so instead I made do with bright yellow gorse flower tea.