On Saturday, we actually enjoyed – yes, I mean enjoyed – some ‘proper’ rain. Prolonged showers fell for most of the day some of which were heavy. The hosepipe ban seems to have worked its magic.
After a break on Saturday night when we managed to fit in a walk with Ruby, we had more steady rain on Sunday.
The weekend’s rain has provided us with a much-needed break from the frustration and tedium of watering. I’m sure that the plants will be far happier too.Â
We had some showery rain on Tuesday, but not enough to keep us indoors.
We took Ruby for a walk around Nostell. Strangely, Ruby is happy to walk and chase her ball in the rain but is very reluctant to venture out in the rain for a comfort break.
As the groomer was coming the next day to give Ruby a trim, she was due a full body wash when we arrived home.
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Ruby is a creature of habit and whenever she has been groomed, she heads for the same position and poses ready for a photo,
She’s certainly not camera shy.
Some peas had been languishing in modules waiting for cooler temperatures before being planted. Last week their wait was over, although the ground had to be well watered before the peas were planted.Â
Once planted, they were covered with enviromesh as protection against the ever-vigilant wood pigeons.
Peas planted earlier had the enviromesh removed and were staked.
No doubt we will soon be subjected to strong winds as the cardoons are standing tall, that’s usually a cue for them to be flattened.
The flowers are opening, which is good news for the bees. They treat the flowers as a fast food outlet.
We had a bit of damage on the allotment. A large branch of one of the plum trees has broken. We think that it is due to the weight of the fruit. After a lean year last year, the tree is loaded with plums. We are hoping that they will be pest free and that the wasps leave them for us. We need the plum harvest to make up for the lack of berry fruit.
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The courgettes are now in full production. Fortunately, we have plenty of neighbours who are happy to take any excess courgettes off our hands.
We picked our first mangetout and French beans.
The potatoes are the last of the meagre harvest produced by the first row of early potatoes.
Once again, we have used plenty of courgettes in our meals.
I made a tagine-style chicken dish.
Another meal, this time using turkey, was made using yellow and green courgette and mangetout. Other ingredients were our garlic, onion, green and red peppers, and mushrooms.
I’ve been using a slow cooker some days so we have a meal ready when we arrive home from the allotment. Last week I made a vegetable curry. Guess what went into it – that’s right courgettes.
On our walks, we like to spot what is going on in the natural world.
Some of the oak trees in the park are loaded with baby acorns and the sycamores are decorated with keys.
Whilst having a coffee break at the allotment, several speckled wood butterflies flitted around the tayberries.
Whilst weeding, I came across lots of cinnabar moth caterpillars munching on groundsel. Don’t tell Martyn but I replanted some groundsel in a corner so that the caterpillars could carry on feeding.
At Nostell, a coot was sitting on a nest strategically built in the lake.
We had to be really careful when walking along the paths by the lake as hundreds of tiny froglets were crossing the path. They were too tiny and fast moving to photograph.
We weren’t the ones interested in observing other creatures. A group of cattle seemed to find us fascinating.
That’s all for this week – pop by next week to find out whether our allotment’s water supply is fixed. The pessimist in me thinks probably not! Until then stay safe and stay well.
Again I am joining Dave for Harvest Monday over on his Our Happy Acres blog.
Sue, it rained for you, it must have been one of those rains that I sent to you:) Beautiful zucchini, I envy them because mine grow with difficulty and bloom little. Probably they will not be there this summer.
Ruby poses, love walking in the rain!
Thank you for the gift Nadezda. Can you send more please?
So glad you finally received rain. I’d take a summer shower here. It’s so hard to keep the plants well-watered.
It didn’t last Sue, or do a lot of good.
Hooray for the rain! Hopefully there will be more to come.
I hope so, Dave but no signs yet.
I thought of you when the heavens opened here- what a relief!
More please, Belinda
Raining here too, and not a moment too soon. I hope it is soaking in and not running off the parched ground. Everything looks fresh and clean again!
Our rain soaked om and disappeared, Debbie,