With the glorious sunshine this weekend, I took a chance. I started washing all my woollen sweaters, to put away until the cold months are back, because spring has sprung. After the STR incident, I'm too paranoid to machine wash anything, so it was all by hand in the bathtub. ... my aching back!
Just a soak, then a swish and then drip dry on the clothes rack in the bright, lazy sunlight before they all get stored away.
I can hardly believe that it's only April.
The potatoes just shot up over night. The hubbler made hoops and netted the beds to stop the neighbourhood cats and squirrels from digging up everything in search of food. The squirrels have been really bad this year. They managed to dig up most of the bulbs that we put down in the autumn and we caught them having a go at the potatoes.
The peas are also just galloping away.
These broadbeans were just tiny things last weekend. To get a bit more growing space, we bought some whisky barrels and filled them with compose. Instead of bamboo poles, we're trying hazel branches. It might not work, but I think the branches are so much prettier.
and here is the last of the apple blossoms.
I cannot believe that the Forest Path stole has resulted in me writing an entry about my laundry, and...
Rowanettes, the questionnaires for Exchange 2007 are due this coming week on 24th April . If you want to participate, please fill out asap. Details are here
How can your garden be romping away like that? Mine is still bare earth! It must be your southerly latitude. Are you a slave to the watering can?
I have that same clothes airer though. Good ol' Ikea. The flat bits are mightily useful
Posted by: sam at April 27, 2007 12:30 AMYes gardening here too - or should I say pulling weeds. As fast as I pull - they seem to be back! Love the photo of the sweaters out to dry - can't seem to place the second one, it looks grey on my minitor with intarsia up the fronts? Is it a handknit?
Posted by: carol at April 24, 2007 06:00 PMI grew beans on tree branches once - looked lovely and natural. Works just as well as anything else! Your garden is beautiful!
Everything is so lush and beautiful!
Posted by: Debi at April 24, 2007 01:15 AMOooh, I love all your picture of green growing things! I just got a garden dug in my backyard this past weekend, for me. Last summer when I moved to PA, was the first time w/out a garden since I was 17! Yay! I immediately went out, took my shoes off, and wiggled my toes in the dirt.
Posted by: Tracey at April 23, 2007 08:04 PMI love the garden photos. You are making me want to get out and work on my again today. I like the hazel branches as well. And thank you for the idea of using a whiskey barrel for my tomatoes and some beans.
Posted by: Mia at April 23, 2007 05:14 PMI love when you talk about your garden. :-) I've been working at reclaiming our backyard from the horrible climbing vines planted by past inhabitants of our house, and your garden pictures are always a source of inspiration.
Posted by: Beth S. at April 23, 2007 03:37 PMGee your vegetables look wonderful. We have not really planted any this year due to the drought. Maybe next year perhaps. Washing handknits in the bathtub sounds like backbreaking work. I put my handknits in the washing machine, put it on woollens, and then just put them on the airer to dry, much easier, and they never felt on that cycle either.
Posted by: Sue at April 23, 2007 02:50 AMCarefull, it's spring! Those pesky squirrels might just carry off those jumpy newly washed sweaters to line their nests with for the next generation.
Posted by: Thomas Holm at April 22, 2007 08:57 PMI'm putting my potatoes in this week so it's fair to say that I'm a little behind you. I think that coppiced hazel is the traditional bean pole, bamboo isn't exactly native.
Posted by: Caroline M at April 22, 2007 08:55 PMIt's such a lovely day. I'm glad it held up for you while doing the laundry. I've been thinking of doing the same for my winter knits.
Posted by: Wanda at April 22, 2007 08:34 PMCool. Everything outside. Your garden reminds me of Wallace and Grommit trying to catch the Were Rabbit. You English are really serious about your gardening!
Ang
Posted by: angelarae at April 22, 2007 07:22 PMGosh Polly, I've only just put my broad bean seeds into pots to germinate. We're a little behind I think! Mind you we're quite a bit further north than you. But your tatties are looking pretty healthy. Our problem is rabbits. They sit on the lawn munching away while our two terriers play on the grass just a few feet away! What type of tattie have you planted?