Tulips have multiplied

This would usually be done in the Autumn but I had to move these tulips anyway so I lifted and divided. I originally planted 6 blue parrot tulips about 3 years ago, at a quick glance I count 71 bulbs. Admittedly a few of them are tiny but in time each bulb will flower and divide into further bulbs. Gotta love propagation.

Plot 1 Planted Up

Finally got plot 1 planted out, with spinach, sorrel, lettuce, tomatoes, parsnips, sprouts, broc, cabbage, kale and parsley, as well as a tidy and mulched perennial strawberry bed and other permanent fruit.

Lost to Frost

I checked my seedlings yesterday and unfortunately an air frost has killed my melons and cucumbers and a few runner bean plantlets. I know I was probably a bit eager to get things out and planted but I'm still surprised, in the middle of London, to loose plants to frost on the 20th May. Also frosted, a large-ish courgette plant at one end of a row, it's counterpart at the other end, same size, was completely untouched. I find this intriguing.

Early promise

Lavender plants from seed

I got a free packet of seed for a fragrant lavender called Spicea Rosea. Sowed them last summer and they're getting to be quite nice little plants now. They can go into my lavender hedge when they're big enough.

Spinach

Planted a couple of rows of spinach plants that were already in plot3. Don't know how well they transplant, we'll have to wait and see.

Broad beans are flowering (Autumn sown)

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.

Patterns in nature

The logarithmic spiral
I know I've posted a picture of this calabrese romanesco already but it's got bigger and more beautiful. This is a great example of Fibonacci and the golden rectangle, a mathmatical pattern found in nature, like the whorl created by sunflower seeds or the spiral of a shell also known as phyllotaxis.

Ivy berries and Hellebores

The Ivy growing at the back of the plots is in full berry which is great bird food. Also flowering at the moment are the hellebores I put in last year.

November pics

I grew this clematis from seed last year I think its the variety called 'Bill Mckensie'.

Re-using wire fencing

When I got plot E7 I inherited a great big roll of wire fencing. I didn't think it would be right to chuck it so I've been cutting bits off and using it as trellis for plants to grow up. Its really difficult to use because its so heavy, but with a bit of perseverance it's fantastic.



Planted a couple of bamboos, a wisteria, clematis, honeysuckle, passionflower and a yellow stemmed willow around the bottom of the section of fence to create a natural screen.

Lucifer

Said Lucifer flower, crocosmia (re: July up the Plot), looking exquisite!

July up the plot

Pond is thriving...

George grows the best figs, here's a sample of how luscious they are...

In between the showers I get to take photos of the july flowers, the crocosmia (kindly donated by our friends in bonny Scotland) dotted around the place is stunning as are the nasturtiums, geums and sunflowers. The echinops below are lovely too, grew from seed last year.

Watercress

What with all this wet weather we're having thought it appropriate to plant out some watercress. Decided it should do quite well in and around the pond, which has a constant supply of water form one of the East Finchley Allotment brooks.

Black hollyhock

Look at how beautiful this is, taken on the 11th July 2007, the flowers are just beginning to open up, amazing.