The New Shoots Gardening Club members have produced their first flowers this week. In our outhouse where we’ve had lots of pots and trays of over-wintering seeds and cuttings, 3 little pots have purple irises blooming. So modest and small, I didn’t even notice till I was packing up this at the end of the session.
Once again, we had good weather on Wednesday despite the unsettled conditions generally and the ground is saturated from so much rain. David was finishing off the polytunnel framework, but it was too windy to put the cover on – next week for that.
Digging over and weeding the plot, ready for planting out in the Spring: Len, Hilary and Hester plodding on with this. Won’t need to do as much next year once we’ve cleared the ground of bindweed and grass, it’ll be a breeze to keep on top of the weeds if we do a thorough job now.
Newcomer Ivan came along and sowed some marigolds and radish. Stuart transplanted some onions into our garlic and onion bed. Christine sorted out arrangements to collect some surplus bricks from her garden so we can make some paths (Thanks to plotholder Chris for giving us the ones we’ve used so far). Jenn came up with ideas for plants to grow and Steve from Black Pit Lane popped in to look at how we’re getting on. Roy at St.Margarets Road continues to look out for the Club and has got us a water barrel to harvest rainwater off the polytunnel.
It’s all beginning to come together! But slowly, slowly. The greatest virtue of a good gardener is patience.
Next week, we’re expecting a visit from the marketing team of Ageing Better which is providing a set-up grant for the club. They want to meet people who are getting involved. See you then 10 till 1 (or later) every Wednesday, St.Margarets Road Allotments