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Monthly Archives: July 2020
blooms out back
The back patch gardens are left to take care of themselves with very little attention given, now that we’re constantly heading to the allotment. But that’s not a problem really, as most of the back patch planting is of perennials … Continue reading
second brood of sparrow fledglings
It’s been variable in London – spells of cool weather, then hot and humid, then more cool and rain. Today started with sun but quickly turned overcast then wet. We’d been tricked by the forecast for rain later in the … Continue reading
Posted in diary, wildlife
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stargazing day & night
The stargazer asiatic lily has finally come into bloom in the back patch. All through April and May I monitored for the dreaded red lily beetle – which did manage (again!!!) to completely strip a few of the garden lilies … Continue reading
Posted in back patch, diary, perennials, wildlife
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beautiful, beguiling butterflies
At the plot we’re waiting for things to grow… It’s all looking lush and bountiful. Alas there have been disappointments and failures too. Due to the cool conditions this summer, things are taking a little time to get going. … Continue reading
Posted in allotment journal, citizen science, veg patch, wildlife
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plot developments elsewhere…
Our work at M’s plot has really paid off – she’s back at it, so as the big guy says, ‘Mission accomplished.’ She came up with us after working with the woods volunteers, and returned on her own to go … Continue reading
Posted in allotment journal, diary, veg patch
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other July fliers..
It’s not all just about butterflies. Another interesting event we witnessed up at the plot was evidence of ‘Flying Ant Day.’ There were at least two nests we witnessed erupting into activity as a new queen ant took to the … Continue reading
Posted in allotment journal, wildlife
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butterfly bonanza
The Big Butterfly Count started on Friday. Organisers say it’s the world’s largest butterfly survey. This is another fantastic citizen science project, and taking part is easy: find a sunny spot and spend 15 minutes counting the butterflies you see … Continue reading
Posted in allotment journal, citizen science, wildlife
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foxy update
The allotment foxes look to be in good health this summer. This guy appears youthful and was just chilling up on F’s plot last week by her spectacular Mullein plants. He’s not our bare-tailed chap, who we’ve not seen about … Continue reading
Posted in allotment journal, diary, wildlife
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new neighbours at the plot
One evening as we were leaving we could hear rustling and snuffling down the path to the edge of the top of the stairs. We thought it might be a fox… Or rat? So we tip toed closer to the … Continue reading
Posted in allotment journal, wildlife
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and so it goes..
We’ve been down the rabbit hole for the past few weeks. There has been lots of summer rain – sometimes light showers, sometimes sustained, pounding downpours. And so on the enforced wet days when we couldn’t garden anyway, we got … Continue reading
Posted in allotment journal, back patch, harvests & feasts
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Philosophising... 