Lavender path edges and native hedge

Gave the lavender a trim, first time I've been able to shape the low hedging since I planted it. There are two varieties, a dwarf called 'ellegance sky' and a run-of-the mill English lavender, which is much more vigorous. I also planted a hedge using native species, at the back of the plots. I used small trees I've grown on from seed - Hawthorn, Field maple, Oak, Holly and Elder.

Tiled edge

Continued to sink old roofing tiles along the edges of the terraced beds to hold the sloping soil in.

Lichen wood bundle

Had some pieces of tree branch from a pruned Chinese tree of heaven which are covered in a variety of lichen. I tied them in a small bundle using wire and hung in a tree. Good for insects.

Greengage blossom

17th and 18th March

Made a hazel teepee for climbing plants and sweet peas. Bit too wet at the moment to dig plot 3 but there are other jobs to do. Tidied up path, weeded and raked over beds front of plot 2.

Frog spawn!

I arrived at the plot this morning to find a nice big gelatinous mass of frog spawn. I was so excited, it's my first, I'm so proud. It's been one year since I dug the pond and they're now breeding which is a very healthy sign. Lots of croaking and goings on in the water.

My dog Sky was very interested in the frog activity, couldn't take her eyes off it, like she was watching frogs porn (so sorry).

Making progress

Scaffold board edging continued...

Put second 8ft board in to continue the straight edge, making it easier to strim the path and weed the plot.

Re-locate the Buddleia

Gorgeous scented flowers all summer long but completely inappropriately located. Only one thing for it - a drastic prune and out it comes. Planted it in the wildlife area.

First Day

Scaffold board edging

If you do nothing else, neaten up the edge. Not sure where I heard this little gem and I don't really know why it is but a neat edge makes everything better.

Work starts

The digging of one giant veg patch starts with one small step.

Drawing of E7, E8 & E8a

E8 - The circle is complete

I've just aquired a third plot, E8. It's a small triangle of a piece of land, considered to be a half-plot, set smack bang in the middle of my other two, which is rather handy. I've had my eye on it for ages now and finally got the go ahead in the last few weeks. I took some pictures of it last September to illustrate the before and after and I also took some pictures pre-starting work.

So this is what it looks like currently, at the end of winter (below).

First Cherry Blossom

East Finchley Parakeets

I've been listening and watching these ring-necked parakeets flying across our allotments for months now but a walk in next door Coldfall Wood a little over a week ago and there they were all roosting in the trees. I know they're an exotic arrival but they've managed to adapt and survive here in London town quite successfully and I admire that.

Anyway I like the variety of explanations as to how they got here including that they escaped from Shepperton Studio during the filming of The African Queen in 1951 or they were accidentally released when the aviaries were damaged at London Zoo during the '87 storm. My favourite is that they were set free by Jimi Hendrix.

Loganberry mulch

Loganberries got their spring mulch of well-rotted manure.

Grease is the word

It's a bit of an experiment really but last year I bought grease bands for the fruit trees, anyway I couldn't work out what was so special about the paper and the grease. So I bought a big tub of petroleum jelly and smeared it around the trunks of all the trees. The reason for this, is to prevent the maggot in fruit hysteria which grips my household every summer when dealing with harvested plums and greengages.

View in the sunlight

Broad beans

Planted out 3 more trays of broad beans, so I've got a succession of plants. I may still sow some again in may for a later crop.

strawberry bed

Had some strawberry plants that needed a place in the world so I dug out a section of the polytunnel bed, making the edge raised and chucking in some well-rotted manure.