We had a lovely day at Gardener's World Live on Saturday. The sun came out, though it was a little breezy. It didn't seem quite so full as it was last year, so it was more enjoyable not being crushed in a crowd, in fact I didn't get my shins bashed at all by any plant trollies. There were some lovely show gardens and my daughter, being a guide, was happy that the girl guide centenary garden had won best in show. It was actually very cleverly designed, representing rainbows, brownies and guides, with messages from the children themselves written on to message sticks. I was quite restrained and didn't spend too much money, but I had to have a fuchsia I saw, named Lottie Hobby, very apt. It's quite an unusual fuchsia, very small flowers and leaves. I lost many of my fuchsias this winter so I will have to make sure that I give them extra protection this year.We went to the allotment on Friday evening and picked the first of the strawberries, which we took in our picnic to Gardener's World Live. There's loads of fruit on the plants, we just need them to hurry up and ripen now.
We've got glorious sunshine here today. I've just sneaked a peek at the weather forcast for the rest of the week and the good weather looks set to continue. Looks like we'll be getting the watering cans out.
Glad you enjoyed GWL. The last time we went the floral marquee was cut off after a torrential rainstorm. They were using rollers to try and soak up the flood water!
ReplyDeleteMust admit that I enjoyed it more when it was just gardening as adding the food and holiday stuff seemed to make it too big.
I was intending to go to GWL, but alas the World Cup and a need to sort out some paths around the beds won out over a long drive to Brum.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it.
What a pretty fuchsia. Yes, cans and hoses out here last night. It's been such a dry season.
ReplyDeleteNo need for watering cans here. It’s raining for 2 days now and it will rain tomorrow too.
ReplyDeleteI love fuchsia flowers. I have never tried to keep them for next season. I’m too lazy for that. This one is very pretty; I hope you get a lot of flowers from it!
I love garden shows. We even planted some tomatoes and Bazil this year, wish us luck.
ReplyDeleteKat
glad you enjoyed gardeners world...I'm off to the lincolnshire show on Wednesday so I do hope you haven't jinxed the weather by mentioning it!!
ReplyDeleteWe have strawberries ready but nothing else yet...i was so sure I'd have radishes by now but they are so tiny...i think I will resow them.
So glad you enjoyed GWL Jo. Very pretty fuschia with the perfect name for you! I can never keep fuschias going for more than one season...
ReplyDeleteYep, I've had the watering can out already this morning - it's been hot and very sunny here today.
Jeanne
x
Good to see that you enjoyed GWL.
ReplyDeleteI watered the plot, using a watering can, this morning and stopping occasionally to eat a strawberry or two made it rather more fun than usual! Flighty xx
Glad you enjoyed the show.
ReplyDeleteAm so jealous, looks like we aren't going to any gardening shows this year, and they are usually the highlight of the year.
The first home-grown strawberries are such a treat. I'm amazed you're only just picking the first ones though - we've had ours for a few weeks and are now collecting them by the bowlful every day. Just shows the difference in climate within these UK shores!
ReplyDeleteWe popped in to the Good Food Show last year and it was horrendous, Green Lane Allotments. It was so packed that you could hardly move, but this year was a lot better and I quite enjoyed it along with the gardening side of things.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that many people are putting things off because of the World Cup, The Idiot Gardener. I hope England fare better tonight than they have been doing.
The buds have opened up on the fuchsia now, Vegetabe Heaven. It's quite a delicate little thing. My watering can is seeing lots of action in this warm weather.
I hope the rain has stopped now, Vrtlarica. We're having lots of sunshine here at the moment, but that means that we're having to do a lot of watering. Fuchsias are one of my favourite flowers. I used to have many more than I do now but the cold winter killed a lot of them.
Good luck with the tomatoes and basil, Kat. I will be watching to see how they do for you, I'm eager to know which kind of tomatoes you're growing.
The weather is lovely again here today, Tanya, so I hope it is in Lincolnshire too. I'm sure you're having a great time and I look forward to reading all about it. We've got radishes ready, they're such a quick growing crop that I tend to agree, I would resow if they seem slow.
I had to have the fuchsia when I saw the name, Jeanne. Luckily it's one I would have bought anyway as it's so pretty. I prefer the understated ones rather than the doubles and giants. My watering can is seeing a lot of action this week.
It's great to be able to pop a morsel in your mouth while tending to the plot, Flighty. I'm really enjoying my strawberries, they've got such an intense flavour compared to those you buy in the supermarket.
I didn't think I would be going to any shows this year either, ReapWhatYouGrow. I'm having to watch the pennies now that I've given up work, but Tesco's had tickets as part of the Clubcard Deals, so that made it affordable. I really enjoyed the day and am glad we managed to go.
I think we might have had strawberries sooner if the frost hadn't got to them, Caro. All the first flowers had the telltale black mark in the middle, so they didn't go on to produce any fruit. Luckily there were many more flowers to come, I'd have hated to miss out on my strawberries this year.
Hello. I stumbled across your blog while googling. I've just got my plot in April and have become obsessed with reading what other veggie growers are up too.
ReplyDeleteWould love to see some photos of your plot!How big is it?
I've really enjoyed reading your posts. I'm now toying with starting my own blog to chart its progress.
Have a nice day
Wendy
Thank you for visiting my blog, Wendy. I would say definitely start a blog, this is the time to do it while your allotment is relatively new, then you can look back and see all the progress you've made. My allotment is about 20 foot by 60 foot, it's not a full size plot but it's big enough for me. If you look back at my very first posts you will see some photos of the full view of the plot. I haven't put any on recently as to be quite honest, I'm ashamed of the weeds. Do let me know if you decide to start a blog as I would love to follow your progress.
ReplyDeleteGlad that you enjoyed GWL Jo. It's always hard to resist temptation at these shows isn't it but you do need a memento :) A preety little fuchsia - Lottie was my sister's childhood nickname.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that your sister's name is Charlotte, Anna. I always have to bring something home with me from any show I go to, but it's always so hard to choose, there's so many nice things to help you part with your money.
ReplyDelete