Last week, we did have some sunshine but, most days, it tended to be in the morning and by the afternoon it had clouded over and sometimes given way to drizzle or rain. It was also quite cold.
We still managed our weekly long walks with Ruby and, at the weekend, we had a couple of afternoons at the allotment. We continued tidying which didn’t provide many photo opportunities. All the grass paths were strimmed and are looking much neater.
We have a couple of gooseberry plants which are trained onto a support. I spent one afternoon trimming them. I know that I haven’t pruned them correctly but this doesn’t seem to affect fruiting and that is what really matters.
A few years ago, we planted a row of native primroses along the front of the gooseberries which have now self-sown in various places on the allotment. Where they pop up the grass strimming is put on hold.
There are two types of native primrose, the pin head – shown on the left and the thrum eyed – shown on the right. To produce seeds a flower must be pollinated by the other type of flower. The pin-eyed flower has a visible stigma whereas in the thrum-eyed version, this is hidden deeper in the flower. The thrum-eyed flower has stamen just visible but these are hidden deeper in the flower of the pin-eyed version. This setup ensures that the flowers are cross-pollinated by visiting insects.
We dug up all the remaining parsnips from the main parsnip bed.
I also cut some daffodils to bring home for a vase I always pick daffodils whilst still in bud or just opening so they last longer. Within an hour or so of being popped in water, they are open. These are perfuming the living room.
The first flowers of our hippeastrum have now faded but a second stem is now producing flowers.
Martyn had posted about our plant hospital here
In the garden, the hyacinths provide the perfume. Each day new flowers are opening and more shrubs are flowering.
Temple Newsam is famous for its display of rhododendrons and azaleas. Last year, as most of the bushes had been pruned hard, the lack of flowers on the rhododendrons was disappointing. This year there are plenty of flower buds, so hopefully there will be a good display. One or two bushes are already flowering.
There are swathes of daffodils in the local park.
We also spotted a small clump of, what I think are, scilla. I’m not sure where they have come from.
Pussy willow flowers are opening. The one pictured below is a male shrub as its flowers produce pollen which insects transfer to flowers produced by the female plant.
Waterbirds on the lake are now seen in pairs as the birds prepare for the breeding season. The female mallards and tufted ducks are less distinct which helps them blend into their surroundings during the time that they are sitting on the nest. The male and female Canada geese have the same plumage although the male tends to be larger than his mate.
Leaves of bluebells are pushing through and promising that there will be an abundant display of flowers in a couple of month’s time.
Finally some of last week’s meals.
I used some of our onion, garlic, carrots, parsnips, leeks and potatoes in a chicken stew.
Some of our onions and carrots went into a veggie bolognese
Onion and carrot were also ingredients in a turkey pie which was served with a mixture of peas, sweetcorn, broad beans and French beans from the freezer.
That’s all from me for now. As always stay safe and well.
This week I am joining Dave for Harvest Monday on his Our Happy Acres blog.
Your amaryllis is a lovely colour, I like the deep red varieties, they look almost velvety. I usually get an amaryllis to grow at Christmas but there was an oversight this year so I bought one already in growth from the local greengrocer but unfortunately it didn’t grow at all after I bought it so I’ve missed out this year.
That’s a shame Jo. This is the first one that we have managed to keep flowering for several years.
Waiting, waiting….
Indeed, Belinda
I had no idea about the two types of primrose, I shall look out for them now. I have a teeny tiny red corkscrew hazel that has just produced a catkin that I am very happy about. Temple Newsam looks lovely, hopefully there will be lots more flowers soon.
Nature is fascinating CJ
We can explain our scilla – we planted them having seen them growing in Alnwick Gardens. Now they have completed their firs flowering year we hope they will multiply on our lawn/meadow. We too have harvested the last of our parsnips – and sown this year’s crop today.
I hope this year’s parsnips are as successful, Mal
It’s bitter cold here today too, though we’ve had quite a few warmer days mixed in. I never really pruned my gooseberries correctly either but like you say they always produced.
I sometimes think that the professionals make things sound more complicated than it is, Dave
I have unexplained Scilla growing in my garden too. oh, to have some warmer days when the sun shines, it’s also bitterly cold here too. How long before we are complaining it’s too hot? We are not easily pleased.
The scilla are in the park a long way from anyones garden, Debbie so maybe its one of those bird gifts that happen