Let the gluts begin

Been away for a wee holiday, enjoying the great outdoors, lots of walking, wildlife and dipping my toes in water, history, art, literature and gardens. But I'll leave writing about that for another day. The main thing is coming home to find that the cats have survived and the vegetables are flourishing The allotment is …

Strawberries, onions, peas, cats but no unicorns yet

Lots happening in the garden and the allotment just now. The back hedge is still growing happily. You may remember that last year I promised flowers and bees, butterflies, bunnies and possibly unicorns - see here Well we have the bees and the butterflies and the flowers. I haven't seen any bunnies or unicorns yet, but …

Cottage garden

Warm sunshine, pouring rain, warm sunshine again - it's party time for the weeds in my garden and allotment. This morning I tackled the weeds in the front garden, which if you've been paying attention, is a former paved over car parking space, converted to what can only be described as a 'cottage garden'.  In …

Renewal

I don't know about you but when I go out to spend a day in the garden, things never go quite according to plan. I did make a list, mostly concerning seed sowing, but, once I got outside, my mind turned to other things. First of all, it's been the most glorious day - cold …

Black and white and colour photos

Another lovely sunny day in the garden and allotment. I had been up since a silly hour in the morning, woken by bird song, so I went out when all was quiet and everyone else was trying to grab as much sleep from the clock change as possible. Bella came out with me and, sensing …

Seed Palace

First of all, here are my quick, let's compare the garden to this time last year, pictures. Here is the pond this year, complete with daffodils and the cowometer showing a no snow reading, and how it was during the Beast from the East, with the cowometer fully charged: But on to the seed palace. …

Radishes

I dug up these radishes in the garden today: I know they don't look very appetising but I'm not proposing to eat them. These are what is left of the summer's super flowering purple radishes, 'purple plum',which produce lovely flowers but are tricky for actual radishes: These impressive flowers have finally succumbed to frost so …

Reclaiming Paradise awards 2018

As the old year rolls on and we venture into 2019, it's award season at Reclaiming Paradise. In a year of weather extremes and personal complications, we celebrate all that is great, good or frankly unsuccessful in my garden and allotment. This year I  cracked a bone in my arm, helped my mother move house, …

Advent Calendar Days 15-20

Today I've been at home in daylight and even done some gardening.  I forgot to take any photos in the garden  but here's a wee update on the wild and wonderful Advent Calendar this week. On Saturday the 15th, snow and hail and all sorts of wintriness was forecast. I spent the day delivering mince …

Advent calendar update

It's been a bit of a long week but keeping my eyes open for snatches of winter joy has helped me get through. So here's an update: Day 8 - I was walking along the street, not feeling very festive, when I heard workmen singing Christmas carols as they worked. This prompted me to photograph …