Growth Spurts

The recent warm weather seems to have helped some of the seedlings grow.  Photo above taken 11 April 2011. Photo left taken 3 weeks later, 2 May. I find this change in the plants quite amazing. Variety: Bean 'Dwarf Purple Queen', Mr Fothergills, 100 seeds £2.35

Three weeks growth - what a difference!

Variety: Courgette (yellow zucchini) 'Soleil F1', Mr Fothergill's, 10 seeds, £2.39. Sowed: 3 April 2011. Photo right (emerging): 11 April 2011. Photo left: 2 May 2011.

The cucumber was also sown on 3 April 2011. I've never grown cucumber before. Looking forward to grating it, mixing it in sour cream with herbs and using it as a dip for my radishes and carrots (and a few crisps/potato chips)... sipping mojitos (I need to grow mint!)!

Variety: Cucumber, Plant Hart's Seeds, US$2.29.

I wish I'd grown more Calendula. The edible flower petals will look good in salad this summer. Variety: Calendula 'Orange King', Carters Tested Seeds, 150 seeds, 79pence. Sown: 18 March 2011.

The rhubarb speaks for itself!

Inspiration - Mount Stewart day out

A day out at Mount Stewart National Trust Property, County Down, Northern Ireland. It was an overcast day - the gardens look even better in sunshine! Click on photos to enlarge.

 The garden is described as "Lady Londonderry's playground: a unique and whimsical fantasy to mirror her varying tastes."  It has Italian and Spanish influences. A great place to visit.

Isn't this boat fantastic. Probably some of the best topiary in Ireland!

The Shamrock Garden - originally 30 topiary figures were in this area. Today there are eight, reinstated in the 1990s in Irish yew.

A Royal Crown.

Veg (rhubarb, chard, etc)

On the veg & fruit front...

Rhubarb is ready for harvesting. Rhubarb crumble and ice cream goes down a treat!

Rhubarb tastes like a fruit, but is a veg?

Chard Bright Lights is on its second harvest after it died down over Winter & up again from early Spring, just like the pack said it would. The slugs seem to be nibbling on it.
(Mr Fothergill seed pack, £2.29, 150 seeds.)

The Redcurrant fruit is growing. I'm going to see about netting the plants to try and get more berries before the birds get to them.

The Maris Peer potatoes are growing and have been earthed up. The native cherry tree is showering the area with white flower petals, 'spring snow' as Elly has called it on her blog.

The 1st of May is International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day! I think the idea is to plant sunflower seeds in neglected public spaces. Anyone taking part in guerilla gardening?

Photo taken Sept 2010.
Variety: Sunflower Giant Single (Hardy Annual), Mr Fothergill's, 75 seeds, £1.25 per pack.