Monday 16 September 2013

Dawn at the allotment

I woke up early on Sunday, as I do most mornings, and I had a sudden desire to do something useful.  So I grabbed a trug and some tubs for harvesting and headed out to the allotment.  I arrived there at about 6.45am, just as the sunrise was turning the sky pink.


Down on the plot, which is in the bottom left corner, everything is starting to look at bit autumnal.  I wandered round for a few minutes looking at everything and taking a few photos.





There was a heavy dew and it was quite chilly, so there was a little prevaricating before I forced myself to start work and get cold and wet.

I picked tomatoes, beetroot, cucumbers, peas, courgettes (yes, that one plant is still going strong) and a carrot (the guinea pigs had it as a special breakfast treat).


I spent the rest of my time there hacking the blackcurrant bushes about.  They are massive and starting to lean over the plot next door.  Some of the branches were horizontal as well.  So I sawed off all of the offending bits.  A job well done.

Down among the raspberries something had been digging.  Nothing popped out and made me scream, so I've no idea what it could be.



This is the view of the top of the plot.  A very weedy strawberry bed that I kept this year to see if it was productive.  It wasn't.  So at some stage they will all come out.


Behind the strawberries is a little Japanese wineberry that I was lucky to find being given away in the "Free Stuff" area.  It took ages to settle in, but it's got some lovely new canes growing now, so hopefully next year it will fruit.


This is the view from the top of the plot to the bottom.  A big expanse of bare earth (surprisingly the boys really got into weeding and helped me clear it!  I know, I couldn't believe my luck either).  Then the asparagus, and beyond that another couple of good sized beds.


I stayed about an hour and a half and got home in time for breakfast.  It did feel quite satisfying to tick something off of the list before the day had really even started.

It won't be long now until the mornings are too dark to do this, but I might try and fit in one or two more early visits.  I'll be happy when everything is tidy(ish) and put away ready for winter.  Although I'm not in too much of a hurry while there are flowers like this to enjoy.


The afternoon went something like this.


Drizzle, umbrellas, wind and then finally horizontal rain.  We all went to watch the middle boy playing football.  There were three, count them three, matches, and we were there for about two hours in total.  Safe to say we were all fairly soaked by the end of it.  I have a cold now.  I know, I know, they say you can't catch a cold from being cold and wet, but I have one.  They do say "feed a cold" though, so I'm thinking I should go and investigate the kitchen.  It's evening right now, and coincidentally that's when my willpower and self-control hit rock bottom.  Being as I have this cold that needs feeding I'm not even going to bother feeling guilty about it.

29 comments:

  1. Could be mice? The holes get surprisingly big.
    Go feed the cold, you'll feel better anyway! Get well soon.

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    1. It could indeed be mice. I think the cold's gone, but I'm keeping up the feeding just in case. Best to be on the safe side.

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  2. Not being a morning person (especially at weekends...) I'm very impressed that you were up and at the allotment for sunrise! Hope your cold is gone very soon.

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    1. I can't think what got into me actually.

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  3. Yes... Feed the cold!!
    And previous biology classes have taught me that though we can't catch cold from being wet and cold it does drastically lower our ability to fight colds so... they kind of go hand in hand... how can your body fight germs when you're freezing! Poor you... feel better soon, and your allotment is lovely... really lovely!! Not long ago my English friends were complaining of the heat wave and now its cold!! How quickly things change!
    Much love and health to you, Tammy x

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    1. Thank you for your comment Tammy. It is indeed quite chilly here at the moment. Hoping for some sun at the weekend.

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  4. I hope you feel better soon, CJ. I would love it if the allotment system came to the US. There are some places where people do this but it isn't widespread. I think it's such an interesting way to help people grow their own food and other plants. I would do it in a heartbeat myself. I am very intrigued to know who was digging under the raspberries; I hope you can get a picture of the mysterious interloper. :)

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    1. Thank you Jennifer. The allotment system is lovely. There's a wonderful sense of community there. You never know who else will be around, and once you close the gate it is a whole different world.

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  5. I am very envious of your allotment, CJ. It sounds very productive too. And your beautiful Cosmos...

    I often go out early walking with Honey at the weekends. I find it very therapeutic to be out before the family is awake.

    Leanne xx

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    1. Thank you Leanne. It is lovely to be out before most of the rest of the world I think.

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  6. We planted a Japanese wineberry several years ago and it just doesn't seem to want to grow!

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    1. I had one at home a couple of years ago that died. I planted a tayberry at the same time, and that's doing well though - a one out of two success rate.

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  7. Everywhere seems so different at that time of the day, it must have been so peaceful. Sorry to hear you've got a cold, I've got one too, I blame it on the kids being back at school, they always bring germs home with them.

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    1. I have a cold though and no kids!

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    2. Hope you're both better now. The second summer ends, in charge the germs.

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  8. I've no idea what our plot looks like at that time of day. Autumn weather has definitely arrived this week.

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    1. It has, although I've heard Sunday will be warm.

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  9. You certainly had a worthwhile morning plotting and must be well pleased. Like you I like to go to the plot in the morning but at this time of year not quite that early. I like your cosmos, which are one of my favourite flowers.
    Sorry to read that you caught a cold and hope that you're now feeling a bit better. Flighty xx

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    1. Thank you Flighty. It was quite pleasing to have accomplished something before breakfast.

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  10. All the pictures are beautiful, but my favorite is the first picture with the sun hitting the clouds. So lovely! I hope you're starting to feel better. I don't know why they say you can't catch a cold from being wet and cold--that's when I always catch one, too:) Treat yourself today:)

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    1. Thank you Kari, glad you liked the picture. I was trying to capture the stillness of the moment, it was quite magical.

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  11. They never tell you when you're having children about the hours you'll be spending of a sideline 'watching'... sigh.

    (my least favourite part of winter!)

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    1. Yes, hours and hours. And it's in the very coldest part of the year. I really need to invest in a very thick coat and some thermal underwear I think.

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  12. What a beautiful sky you were rewarded with for getting up so early! Your allotment is beautiful, I admire gardeners!xx

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  13. Your allotment looks beautiful in the morning light. I too am a morning person. It must have been so peaceful there and satisfying to get things done before the rain arrived.
    Sarah x

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    1. It really was very peaceful, although the pigeons did make me jump a bit.

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  14. That first photo is really something. Just gorgeous. I'm impressed by your work ethic, I'd still be lazing around in my dressing gown drinking tea by the time you'd done an hours gardening. I bet it was nice and peaceful there though. x

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    1. Thank you Gillian. I'm not normally that industrious though, wouldn't want you to think I'm always popping down there at 7am!

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