Golden evening

Such a beautiful evening that we set off on our bikes at about 7.30. (Minus Thomas - apparently doing homework.)

Cycled through Richmond park past the bunnies sitting in the last of the sunlight, through to Richmond and back along the shiny river for a drink at Boaters in Kingston.

Bit of a crisp bribe for Zander to come with us...

An allotment helper and uninvited guests

Well, when I say helper... Zander was mainly involved in lounging on the allotment in a hammock watching a DVD - although I must admit that he got rid of a magpie feather that I couldn't remove without panicking. Worth spending an age untangling the hammock just for that.

Then, there are the blackfly also lounging, not on a hammock, but on all the green beans - they seem to have no intention of leaving.

And finally I love the tones and textures of this artichoke against the soft pattern of its backdrop.

Looking forward to Zander coming to help again...

Today...

...I will mostly be eating peppery french radishes.

Better sow some more...

Plus..

...the bindweed that is driving me insane - but is a perfect flower, the young teasels, blackberry blossom, even sunny marigolds - all posing beautifully and therefore successfully distracting me from the hideous blackfly over all the beans and spreading....

Allotment distractions

Just about managed to water a bit today and pot up a few chive seedlings, but the naturalised poppies all over the allotments kept beckoning.

What a lovely day

Cycled to Petersham nursery today with the lovely Nikki, which made up for not being able to go with Ma, Pa and Barney on Tuesday.

It's such a joy to visit - the fabulous cakes (recommend the almond and apricot), the creative planting ideas, the best wellies, in fact, eclectic loveliness everywhere.

Be a great and inspirational place for concepts - perhaps a bit far from W1?

So many blackcurrants

Managed to beat those enormous wood pigeons to the currants this year. Last year the fat birds snapped the branches because the plants were so young.

What to do with the blackcurrants though? Obviously something with mint...Keith rather handily found a recipe that uses blackcurrant leaves only - very helpful when I have loads of lovely fruit.

Sadly, some animal - probably fox - has run amok in my potatoes and now the potato patch looks like someone has been camping on it.

Maybe they have...