I have a friend who is a proper photographer, and one of her well known and loved pictures is called something like Ted's workbench or shed - it is a loving study of a well ordered and well used garden shed, clearly a place where a chap could potter productively and did so with pride. Our shed will never reach those heights, but it is a bit disconcerting at dusk to put my head into the shed and see the freeloading bantam perched there like some Taunton cider man. No wonder we find broken eggs dotted around the shed if this is her idea of a safe roosting place!
Today was a cat feeding day, so I was able to see how my Dame Edna experiment was getting on. Two years ago I bought a cheap bag of gladioli corms, fully intending to plant them somewhere, and then totally forgetting. About a month ago I found them again, and potted the whole packet into a tub with my patent mix of sifted horse poo and leaf mould, put water on them and left them to do their worst, during the last really cold snap. Today I think there are about 7 or 8 coming up along with a couple of cosmos seeds that have germinated. I'm hopeful of some August colour if things go well, we remember to water the tub, and the cats don't decide to make it their outdoor bed!
I also sowed more bee friendly flowers - we'll see if any of those come up. The seed is fresher than much I have used this year, so I am hopeful. On the other hand, the generous dose of wood ash may have been a bit too strong - we'll see. Anyway, I was resting from my labours and noticed that finally the work of the solitary bees has paid off and there are tiny, tiny bean pods set on the broad beans. That will be delicious in about 3 weeks time.
Finally for today, while checking round the plot as I do, I noticed that the new weed suppressant mat I had laid where the sweetcorn will go, was not looking as lovely and shiny as before. Closer inspection showed that the shower of rain the day before yesterday brought vast quantities of colza pollen with it, which is all over the matting. It is also all over my car, and probably all over me too when I am outdoors. Hay fever season is here again! Good thing my GP has agreed to prescribe the antihistamines required as I can't pop into Boots this year!
It remains to be seen whether I will have a chance to update you tomorrow - I'll try, but I'm not promising!
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