It was not my intention this year, to be absent for so long here within my garden blog. But as all good gardeners know, sometimes we have to prioritise various parts of garden that are in need of attention. This year I allowed my garden blog to slide, as I focused in on other things within my home. For those not familiar with my main blog, that too had to take a back seat in some months too..
As one year closes and another is about to begin, we are always filled with good intentions to do better or set ourselves goals… This coming year my intention is to be kinder to others, kinder to myself, and to count every blessing that we may not always see, until we are gifted them..
So I will leave you with my last blog of the year 2025, and the reblog of my post on my main blog over at Dreamwalkers Sanctuary..
May you grow not only wonderful food, but may your harvests be plentiful, not only in the riches from your gardens, but from the riches of life. as you share your love, and gratitude with others.. May those riches return to you ten fold.
May 2026 bring you abundant fruits of your labours, along with good health, happiness and harmony.. Much love to all ..
And Happy Gardening! and Gathering throughout Life.. Sue. 💖
Where do I begin ?… The best laid plans as they say, often go awry .. I have not been in my garden blog, or in fact in our allotment as often as I would have liked, due to many things. But I did manage on certain days to take a few photos of my devoted hubbies successes and his dedicated morning watering routine, even though he himself was not too well, in our very hot dry Summer, that has seen many crops wither with the lack of rain.
So the best way to report what has been growing is to share in a Gallery. So I will write on each photo what is what, and you may have to visit my actual blog post in order to enlarge the photo and read the text.
The Veggie Patch: This year has been one of the poorest growing seasons in a long while on the plot, not only for us, but many gardeners on the allotments, have all been sharing stories of seeds not germinating, or failing due to the lack of rain and excessive heat in our very dry sandy soil. Some days my hubby said the soil has resembled sand, blowing in the exceptionally windy storms, that we have also encountered here in England this season with the drought of lack of rain this Summer.
The Dwarf French Beans, while they have been watered regularly, were when picked dry and quite stringy. You can see from the misses within the row, again many failed to germinate. The Sweetcorn behind the Sunflowers have lots of cobs on them, hopefully will be juicy and not too dry.
The Leeks are doing well, above, also the onions and shallots are now pulled up and are in the greenhouse drying out more before I use the shallots to pickle in the Autumn. The Sweetcorn, a fellow allotmenteer gave us his spare left over plants, as we were going to give growing Sweetcorn a miss this year, as we seem to give more away than eat ourselves. But my hubby pulled two cobs off to test the other day and they are sweet and juicy despite the lack of rain. So, we are happy about that.
The lettuce, Yeah… Under netting A success with some, others the leaves got very scorched and brown due to the heat and lack of water The Winter Cabbage, under netting, has nearly all bolted and split due to the heat and dry weather.
The Apples, now there is another story… Both our small established apple trees were loaded with apples, and my hubby said the best of them right on the top. Now these young trees are only a few years old so they are only around 7 ft tall, with in easy stretch reach to pick… My hubby went to the plot the other day and said someone looked like they had helped themselves to the best off the tree, as lots were missing, and were not windfallen on the ground.. So he picked a lot off the tree himself to put into storage before would usually pick them. … Sadly it seems, there are still people who manage to get onto the plot who help themselves to produce. And in todays climate of expensive food costs here in the UK it isn’t surprising.
The pictures of the Apple trees below were taken weeks ago now. my newest Apple tree grown from seed, looks like they will be crab apples this year as they are still only tiny.. 🙂 But I am happy the tree is producing any kind of apple. as I nurtured it from an apple pip.. 🙂
Apple trees in fruit before some one helped themselves to the best of them
But we also had some successes…. Like the Crystal Lemon Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Broad beans, Courgettes, Broccoli, Raspberries, and Lettuce.. The Broccoli, did really well, so have the cucumbers. And we were able to freeze a lot of Broad beans, and Raspberries.
Lettuce
The Potatoes are already too for digging up… We have already dug up two roots of the main crop, as we finished off the earlier crop a while ago .. The early new potatoes we not so many, and so we are hoping the main crop will last us through the winter, but having already started digging them up a month early. My hubby still has to tackle that job of digging up to store, when the heat subsides a little.
Home Garden
Next time, I will share the collection of flowers that have been blooming over the last couple of months in our garden…
“However big or small your garden is, if you allow nature to touch your spirit, gardening will bring returns of peace, satisfaction, and well-being for as long as you continue to wander the garden path.” – Norman Hansen
The dry weather of around 6 or 7 weeks here in the East Mids, broke this last week, and we had some much needed rainfall, that certainly boosted the crops. Below you can see the potatoes are now through and I am sure they drank thirstily from the rain.
I had not been on the plot for over a month, and I have to praise my hubby, for all the hard work he has put in, not only in all the planting, but in keeping the weeds down… The dry weather has helped there, and you can be sure now the rain has fallen, the weeds will soon be pushing through. We were not going to grow any sweet corn this year, but the Universe had other ideas, as a fellow allotmenteer, gave my hubby some plants, and then another person gave him some more.. We just had enough room left, so they got planted.
Sweetcorn near the composting bins. Under the wire gridding on the soil to protect from foxes digging up, are planted, Parsnips, Beetroot and Spring Onions. Under the green cloche is the Winter Cabbage.
I managed to weed out some of the strawberry bed, and picked some strawberries too. In fact I have now picked at least a couple of punnets worth since.
Strawberry bed Washed Strawberries
The Greenhouse’s are now more or less all sorted out and the Tomato plants are in along with cucumbers and Peppers. The courgettes are also in the ground now, but I didn’t take a photo of them.
Tomatoes in one greenhouse
Cucumbers and Sweet Peppers.
The Middle Cloche has Brussel Sprouts and Purple sprouting Broccoli. And the nearest the bottom Cloche has Broccoli and Spring and Summer Cabbages.
Broad beans are the greenery you see, and under the wire are French beans, and Peas, that are just starting to sprout.
Furthest away is leeks, then onion set from Seeds, then onion Sets, and Shallot sets.
Kidney Beans, starting to climb the poles, being sheltered from the wind by the netting. Kidney beans are very susceptible to Frost and cold winds. If planting the seeds outdoors, you should not plant in the soil until around the 13th May, this gives the late frosts time to pass before the plant starts pushing through the ground.. These were started in the green house and later planted outdoors.
My Apple Tree I grew from seed, now has Apple’s that have set on the branches. I did a Happy Dance when I saw this. 🤣
Rhubarb Pie
The Rhubarb has been been picked several times and made into pies.
Next time I will share the home garden flowers and what is in bloom. I hope your own gardens are flourishing well… Until Next Time.. 🥦🍓🌱Happy Gardening.🌱🥦🍓
The Month of May, is one of my most special months of the year. And the delights of the Bluebell woods are something to behold. And so on the first day of May, we went to visit this ancient woodland and park. I posted more about that visit Here..
I have not been a regular visitor to our allotment plot this past month, instead my hubby as asked me to concentrate on the home garden, as I overdid it last time I went to help him and pulled my back. So I have no new photos to share at the moment, so instead I will share what is blooming in the home garden.
In the Home Greenhouse the Begonia’s are sprouting, and will soon be able to be put outside
A new Pink Dahlia in bloom Grown in a pot in the greenhouse
Aquilegia’s and Iris’s
Snapdragons
Flag Iris’s in Bud
Ferns and Yellow Welch Poppies with the Magnolia
My daughter brought me some Peonies and gave me some Lilies of the Valley from out of her garden.. She said that she had read that gifting Lilies of the Valley on the 1st of May which was my own special day, was a traditional Good luck charm. I went to explore in more detail later and discovered that this tradition originated in Japan and became popular in Europe going back to 1560.
Back in the days of Charles IX, on a certain May 1, 1560, it is said that the king was offered a sprig of lily of the valley during a trip to the Drôme region, and that he appreciated the attention so much that he decided to offer these white flowers to the ladies of the Court every spring, as a good-luck charm. A number of anecdotes followed, all of which contributed to the lily of the valley’s reputation as a sweet harbinger of happiness…
More can be found out about this tradition on the link above provided.
The Clematis has been in full flower too, enjoying the Sun.
Biscuit enjoying the Sun.
I will finish off with a photo of our cat Biscuit.. He wasn’t too well this past couple of weeks, which resulted in a visit to the vets after what looked like a bite on his mouth led to an abscess.. After a course of treatment he is now back to his normal self. And he even felt well enough to go with his Dad, my hubby, for a walk and play on the allotments. Here are some previous photos of him keeping his Dad company on the plot.
We are so very grateful that Biscuit came into our lives 5 years ago, and he chose us, he will be 14 this year.
I hope that all of your own gardens are thriving, sending you much love and
Spring is such a wonderful time, as we witness the opening of buds after their deep winters sleep. I never fail to marvel at Nature’s beauty in looking deep into a newly opened flower, to the unfurling of a fresh green leaf.
We planted out some of the lettuce’s into the raised bed… Here you see them protected under the netting.
Lettuce
Last week when I took these photos it was dry, but we have since had a few showers of rain, so we were still watering. Below you can see the Shallots and Onions watered and how much they have grown since the last photos I took when planting them.
Onions and Shallots and Broccoli and cauliflower under the netting.
I am absolutely thrilled with my Apple tree I grew from seed, and I make no apologies for going on about this tree.. The blossom is a deeper pink than my other mature trees. I just wish I could remember the variety of apple I took the seeds from… I know they were a delicious apple I bought off a Farmers Market Stall, which is why I grew the seed..
A Darker Pink Apple Blossom from my home grown seed
New Apple Tree, You can clearly see the darker shade of blossom against the back drop of the other apple trees
The Greenhouse at home as also been busy, as Hubby re-potted the Begonia tubas and a couple of new Dahlia tubas as well which are now beginning to sprout
Begonias
A Dahlia well and truly sprouting and wall pots filled with compost ready for new plants.
In the home garden, we have more colour as the wall flowers, honesty, and bleeding hearts open up in flower. And the Iris leaves along with forget-me-nots and primulas and primroses. Here in the Gallery. The Magnolia tree we gave a very good prune last Autumn as it was getting to high to manage. Click each image to enlarge.
Bleeding Hearts flower Honesty and Wallflowers Bleeding Hearts Flowers Magnolia Tree Forget-me-nots. Bleeding Hearts Honesty and Tulips Iris Spike leaves, primrose and primulas
On the days I have not been out in nature, I have been either painting, or sewing.. I painted this fox, on a small card.
Fox in Watercolour
And I dedicate myself about 2 hours a day aside for sewing. I am completing another Mother’s Day gift from my daughter. I shared one of here gifts I made, and shared in my other main blog Dreamwalkers Sanctuary. A Stargazer Hare in felt, in a post called Expanding Joy. Hare Today Gone Tomorrow. linked to the title.
This project needs lots of concentration, along with patience. As this is stitched through canvas, with tiny beads,. The project is called A Singing Bird by Abris Art. And I am loving doing this bead work. The needle is that fine, it often bends as I push through the canvas. I have since done more since taking this photo and I am now working on the tail feathers.
Singing Bird Bead Work
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter last weekend… I am still in the relaxation mode as this next week is another celebration week for me personally.
Remember, Life is for living, for growing, and for creating.
Make the very best of each and every moment. Fill it with Love, and Joy, and Happiness in everything you do. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can achieve today. For you never know what tomorrow may bring.
Today my daughter sent me some photos of the Simnel Cake she made, and I asked her could I share them. Because I thought her cake is just too good, I just have to share… I do not know which Vegan recipe she used, but you can find many vegan along with normal recipes online… I know she baked the cake a while ago, ( Like you do a Christmas cake ) but just today she put the marzipan on the top.
For those who do not know about theHistory of a Simnel Cake. I will add a little information here curtesy of the The Anglican Way.. After researching a few sites, I felt this one held quite a bit of information, those not living in England may enjoy.. In fact I also learnt a few things too while reading this history.. A recipe can also be found within the link above there of the traditional recipe… My daughter’s cake is made using a vegan recipe.
This cake certainly contains an abundance of things that people have often given up during Lent and is a very fine cake indeed, replete with almond paste covering and eleven balls of the same almond paste on top (representing the Apostles other than Judas)…… Quote from ~ Anglican Way
If you count the round balls on top of my daughters Cake, there are 13….. She said these represents to her, 12 Apostles, and Mary Magdalene. 😁
Simnel Cake with the layer in between of Marzipan which is put in before the cake is cooked.
A Little History:
The public saga began in 1486, a year after Henry VII had killed Richard III at the battle of Bosworth and seized the crown, when a young man claiming to be a Yorkist prince appeared out of the blue with the intent to depose the usurper and reclaim the throne for the legitimate royal line. This pretender claimed to be Richard III’s heir and the rightful king of England, alleging specifically that he was in fact Edward, Earl of Warwick, the son of Richard III’s brother, George, Duke of Clarence – who was crowned king of England in Dublin Cathedral, despite the Tudor government insisting that his real name was Lambert Simnel and that he was an imposter.
I have been busy this week also on the allotments, and I took lots of photos. I will share those with you next time, as I am taking a Easter Break … So If I do not get back to comments straight away, know I will be back Tuesday to answer them…
April has surprised us here in England with glorious sunshine, blue skies and unusual warmth. All perfect ingredients as we begin planting. So today my post is mainly in picture form… Click photos to enlarge. My Hubby has worked hard, getting all the potatoes in. Two rows of early variety called Foremost, the first early seed potato. And the Main crop of Six rows of Picasso
Both the New potatoes and Main crop are now planted.
And I was able to go and give him a helping hand to put the onion sets in and shallots. I need to do more exercise, as my back certainly knew about it after planting the rows.
Setting the Onions and Shallots two rows of each.
Above you see the holes dug out for me to plant in.. And below the rows watered in.
You may be wondering about all the plastic sheeting you can see in the distance on the next plot… This plot has sat empty for several years, as I have spoken of in the past, and is full of weeds which has reverted back to a field, so the man who has taken on this plot this year, is killing the weed and grass off this year by covering it.. He like us, is not using chemical weed killers preferring to try to keep things as organic as possible… And next year he will set this plot with veggies… He already has two other plots and keeps hens on the one next to it, which we get our new laid eggs from.. So we are very happy that he has taken on this plot.
Lupins in the vacant plot next to ours, several years ago. These were seeded from the Lupins we had in planted for bees, and also to attract black and white fly.. As Lupins are renowned for attracting them. So we planted along the boarder of our plot the other year. To keep the flies off of our veggies … Nature left to her own devices is remarkable. This was how the plot used to look. See what I mean about Nature reverting back if left to her own devices…. As she became a meadow again.
Plum Tree Blossom ~ Look at that Blue Sky…. A wonderful sight … Can you see the little pixie hat elf sat in the middle there? Surrounded in the darker outline… I can. 😊 I love it when we SEE deeper..
Now this plum tree is actually on the other plot, and it used to have wonderful plums until the pervious owner chopped it down… But after 5 years of neglect. It is now coming back into it own. Nature is resilient and regenerates. Never give up on Mother Nature, for she will surprise you again and again, on her healing capabilities…
Apple seed growing this year.
Sitting on my kitchen window sill is yet another apple seed… I planted several in this pot and this one is the only one to germinate. I think this must be now 3 months old. This is how my Apple tree which is now in the allotment started out life several years ago.. Now look how big she has grown.
Apple Tree now full of blossom buds waiting to bloom
Look at all that blossom awaiting to bloom
Below you can see it has almost caught up to the size of two other Apple trees in the plot… These two however were moved several years back from their original planted position… They now seem to like where they are better… You can see the difference in thickness of their trunks. But I want to keep these trees cut back on the smaller size rather than let them grow too high.. As we are too long in the tooth now lol to go climbing for apples 🙂 …
Youngest Apple tree from seed is on the left.
Rhubarb
The Rhubarb is coming along nicely too… Soon I will be lifting the barrel off of it… And making Rhubarb crumble or Rhubarb pie.
Red Currant Bush Lots of flowers forming for the berries.
Nearly all of my window sills at home are full of something or other growing… Below are the cucumber plants which are various varieties
Cucumbers in small pots
Tomatoes. various varieties
Here are some dwarf sweet-peas and some sunflowers I planted in the pots which failed to germinate with sweet-peas.
On Monday I planted out some sweetpeas by the fence to climb trellis work. as they had been hardened off… While we have still had a few frosty starts to our mornings, these should withstand the cold. I also planted Cosmos, Zinnia’s and Stocks, which are starting to spout. I love this time of year when we can begin the Growing Season all over again…
What are you planting in your gardens? I hope you receive as much joy from your gardens as I do..
Well here we are already at the end of March, and it rushed by at an ever increasing speed. We have been thankful for the Sunnier days, which have fluctuated from warm to frosty starts. I hear on the long range weather forecasting that Winter may not have done with us just yet. But, the ground is now dug, and my hubby has all but a few more rows of potato’s to get in, and then that is the hardest job of work done. ( Except for the constant weeding ) 🙂
Trenches dug, then horse manured, and potato’s planted.
Onions and shallots are sprouting well in their pots, and if the weather holds out in the next couple of weeks it will be my job to put them in the ground. We have made sure we have more shallots than last year, as I want to make more jars of pickled onions with them this autumn..
Shallots sprouting Onions set from seed.
Onions are frost hardy, so long as the temps do not get too low. and we will put them under cloches until they get more established to protect them.
Leeks.
These look like blades of grass at the moment, and they have to grow quite a bit more yet before they are planted out. We still have leeks in the ground from last year, we are using in soups and dinners.
Broad beans and Leeks back in February
Kitchen Medicine:
The Onion family hold many health benefits, helping boost your immunity and good for heart health too. Onions also have a history of use in traditional medicine for their antibacterial properties. This is now backed up by scientific studies, which confirm how onions are effective against harmful bacteria’s like Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) and other bacteria such as E. Coli.
Brassica Family
The Brassica Family is now also sprouting well in the greenhouse. You can see from my last post how these are growing. I have already spoken about the health benefits of cabbages.
Broccoli is another vegetable with lots of health benefits. It contains many vitamins, along with antioxidants, and its a good source of fibre helping the digestive system. It can also help in reducing inflammation, along with keeping blood sugar stable, and strengthening the immune system. Below is the purple flowering variety we grew last year. The net was to keep the pigeons from eating it.. They know what is good for them too 🙂
Purple Flowering Broccoli
Apples: I was also thrilled to see Apple tree is beginning sprouting, on my newest addition to the plot. I grew this young apple tree from a pip in an apple… Well I grew around 6 seedlings, but this one grew the best the others didn’t survive.
Here you see the rows of potatoes, behind a young apple tree that I have grown from seed. Which seems to be loving its new position in the allotment. Photo taken 2023.
This one stood on my landing window sill for nearly two years getting stronger before I planted it in the allotment. I think this has to be 5 years old now from seed to the branch you see below. I am hoping this year we may get a few apples, and it will be interesting to see if they are similar to the apples I bought which I took the seeds from.
I have two smaller Apple trees which bare apples. I have sprayed them with a mixture of Bicarbonate of Soda, a little sunflower oil and a few drops of washing up liquid.. This helps keep mildew forming on the leaves, and pests at bay. Recipes can be found on line for organic home made sprays to protect your plants. I use this recipe regular… For One litre of water I use two teaspoons of Bicarbonate of Soda, One tablespoon of either Neem Oil, or I used sunflower oil, and around 10 drops of washing up liquid ,which is around half a teaspoon. Put into a large spray bottle and shake well before spraying. You can find recipes on line I quickly found this one on YouTube Recipes may vary slightly.
Apple Tree from seed now hopefully will blossom and set apples. It now has many more branches than the photo above.
Hyacinths Blue Hyacinths CreamMore Spring flowers Hyacinths and Daffodils
And Lastly I added the Spring Bulbs which are now in full bloom in my home garden. The Hyacinths fragrance is just wonderful as I walk past them.
Happy Gardening and Happy Growing Season in April.
And wishing All Mothers here in England and the UK On Sunday 30th March..
. A very Happy Mothers Day…
I know I will be enjoying my Mothers day with family, So I may not respond straight away on Sunday to comments until later in the day.
Fairies at the Bottom of our Garden A Watercolour Card I painted.
Well perhaps not… But today is St Patricks Day, and I while I do not myself celebrate this day here in England, I know many of you who perhaps read here may do. I would like to think there are the little folk tending the plants and seeing that our Natural Rhythms and cycles of the Seasons are all in order…
I have just finished reading a wonderful magical book by D Wallace Peach. Which I found enchanting, along with so many analogies as we all weave our way through life. As we dive deeper into our talents and believe in our own abilities to create magic from our imagination.. I have to say Diana, kept me spell bound throughout the whole of this book with its Magical creatures and vivid narration of the Charmed ones. A recommended read.. I have left Diana’s Blog link below .
While we await the potatoes to sprout a little more and the brassica family to push through and grow, I have been in my own creative space.
Potatoes in each of these boxes in the shed sprouting before they go in the ground in a couple of weeks time Here are Cauliflower, Broccoli Early Cabbage.
So while I managed to get a little weeding out of my strawberry patch done on the fine days, There is not much else I could help my hubby with last week. So my paint box was out again and I decided to add to my card collection.. The Elementals have been in my mind all of this year, so I allowed my own imagination to just go with the flow. and the Gallery below is the results… Some of you who visit my Main Blog Dreamwalker’s Sanctuary Linked at the side panel of this blog, may have seen a few of these already.. Others are new.
Click each to enlarge.
Some Whimsical birds Mushroom Fairy Butterfly Dragonfly
Watercolour Paintings
Have a wonderful St Patricks Day.. And Enjoy the rest of March, I hope Spring is arriving where you are or Autumn is delivering its colourful glow… And as D Wallace Peace Book suggests.. Each of the Seasons are essential for our survival… May we all honour our Earth Mother and All of her Seasons, along with all of those Little Folk who are working their Magic..
The primroses I bought from a garden centre years ago and I have split up to replant in our boarder are bringing colour to the garden.
The Daffodils too are beginning to bloom, as they bring their yellow delights of sunshine into our spring gardens.
A lone daffodil showing the way.
Winter I know in many parts around the world is still in full swing, as the snow and ice still blanket the earth… And here in England, I know we still have plenty of time yet for snow fall. I have lost the count over the years, how when the Daffodils are out in full bloom, they are dashed and broken back into the ground by heavy snow. But the flowers remind me of our own inner strengths, as we weather our own storms in life… We push on through, to stand tall, in our resolve to be the best we can be…
And the flowers, do exactly that, showing us their best, despite all that the elements throw at them..
As I walked to the allotments this morning with my hubby, to inspect how things were after some more very high winds over the last couple of days. I spotted near a hedgerow these beautiful snowdrops.
The snow drops are always among the first to push through the frozen ground, and despite their delicate looking appearance, they stand proud and tall. Showing us all that we are stronger than we think, especially when we stand side by side in numbers.. Reminding me of the saying, Together we Stand, Divided we Fall…
The Allotment has the horse manure now sitting on top, ready to be dug in. Here hubby is about putting some of the plastic sheeting back which had blown over in the wind from the neighbouring plot… At last someone has taken this plot next to us, and has covered it to allow the weeds to die back down. Its been empty for over 4 years. we hope the plot the other side of us the people who took it on, take a new interest in it, or give it up so others may make the most of it…
We had some tarpaulin ripped off the shed roof, but there is still a rough layer in place, so that is a job for finer weather. but compared to others we got off lightly.
Some of the seeds are already beginning to sprout through, which are cauliflower, and early cabbage. Hubby has to reset the peas as mice got into the greenhouse and decided to have a feast on them, (What is it with us and growing Peas!… 🙂 ) Lets hope the second setting we get better results 🙂 And once in the ground the pigeons don’t spot them, fingers crossed 🙂
Here below are the broad beans coming through along with last autumns leeks, which we are still pulling to eat.
Broad beans and leeks
It was good to get back into the allotments. I have not been in it for a while, as I have been busy with my needle crafts. Which I will share at a later date. We are fortunate, as some in the high storms in the recent weeks, had their green houses totally collapse and smash….
I am looking forward to Spring, and planting time, to get back out into the garden, get soil beneath my nails again.. As we feel Mother Earth beneath our feet. She feeds us, and heals us…
I will leave you with some colour from plants and flowers inside our home… The blooms of roses, were part of a bouquet for our Golden Wedding Anniversary in January.
Dreamwalker's Garden 
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