Free seeds

I have been down to the garden centre to redeem my reward vouchers, Only £3.00 this time but at least that means I haven't spent as much money this year. As with this time last year their seeds are reduced to 50p a pack. I've left it a bit late so not much to choose from, but I quite like that, it helps me choose! I plumped for:

Sweetcorn, Mirai. Early, extra sweet variety. Plant Feb-May, harvest Aug-Sept.
Celery, Granada. High yielding, stores well. Sow Feb-Mar, harvest Aug-Oct
Pea, Twinkle: Early, disease resistant variety. Sow Feb-April, Harvest June-July.
Pea, Lincoln, long cropping heritage variety, Sow March - June, harvest June-Aug

For the garden:
Nigella Mulberry Rose
Cosmos Purity

Evening tranquility

I mentioned in a previous post that I've been combining trips to the plot with walking the dogs all this summer. This means I often find myself there at sunset. the nights are already drawing in so much that I won't be able to go after work at all soon, and I will miss the peaceful atmosphere until next year.

Here are a couple of examples both taken standing on my plot using my Panasonic digital camera.

April 2011

August 2011

Time to stop and think

 Things seem to slow down a bit in late summer, after the huge explosion of growth in June and July that has kept me away from the blog. Time to slow down, have a think and post a few photos.

First here's a self-portrait I took for my photo-a-week project over on Flickr (follow the link if you're interested in the results of one of my other hobbies).

31st August, officially the last day of summer

I'm pleased I grew the Aster daisies and sunflowers (foreground), they've given us a steady supply of long-lasting flowers for the house since July, and they're still going. Behind those you can see the pumpkins, the biggest I have ever grown. Behind that, parsnips, slow to start but now catching up and waiting for the first frost before I try them. Behind that, surprisingly good dwarf French beans, a steady, manageable supply of good beans from tiny 8-inch high plants, rather than a massive glut all at once. Behind that, well you can't see the cabbages they are too small, and behind that; me. It's OK, I'm a long way from the lens.

Compare this to a shot  I took from roughly the same position earlier in the year, it's such a contrast it seems hard to believe it's the same place.

Taken on 9th June, just 12 weeks ago.

Infant asters, sunflowers and pumpkins shortly after planting out

Pumpkins doing well, this is only a small one. Recipes welcome

Rudbeckia in full bloom. Excellent for cut flowers.