Time

Aargh, I hadn't quite realised that it is now 14 months since I last wrote a blog post. I've looked at my blog today for the first time in ages, realised how different my garden is now from the picture on the front! But the interesting thing is that if you look at the stats people are still looking at the old posts. I've had a break from updating my blog not because I didn't want to write but just that I didn't have the time. However, I've now got a bit more free time and the last few months I've been really missing the writing and how it allows me to follow the process of growing in my garden and allotment. Plus I've really missed the connection with other bloggers, so I'm going to get started again. I'm sure everyone has forgotten me but I have been keeping an eye on my favourite bloggers over the last year and hope I can back into regularly following and commenting on blogs. 

 

So a couple of things that I need to do is update the blog its looking very outdated, this I will do over the next few weeks, and the other is to just have a quick recap! Last time I wrote I was part way through my WRAGS training at York Gate Garden. That finished in August 2014 and I stayed on a few months after that as assistant gardener. But my contract was coming to the end and with a number of other changes in the garden I decided that whilst I had loved every minute of my time there I needed to get some experience other places. So I finished there in April this year, at the same time Sue Beesley from Bluebell Cottage Nursery in Cheshire advertised on Twitter for some help at weekends and so I got in contact and I'm now working there. My main role is to advise people on buying plants from the nursery, finding plants that may be looking for and helping out if people have problem areas in their garden that they'd like plants for. I also put stock out and have been helping with some plant propagation. The nursery sells only hardy perennials but there is an extensive range and this is exponentially increasing my plant knowledge! Sue has created a lovely garden, that people can visit, to showcase the plants that she sells and also for stock plants for propagation to sell. I am still working 3 days a week at my research job at Manchester Uni, plus I've still got my garden and allotment to keep going, more news on that later. But I'm hoping that I'll have a bit more time now to get back into writing. 

So my allotment is doing well, I'm in my 5th year now of growing there and its developed into a nice routine. The main structure of the plot is there with the paths and beds. I've made a few changes this year with some more fruit and more perennial crops. Also taking inspiration from Wellywoman's recent book I've established a proper cutting patch. This I started last year and developed further this year, extending into other beds. Its very addictive. I'll update on this separately.

But in a crazy moment in late Spring I also took on another plot, this is a plot in the site right behind my house, so much closer than my other plot. It needs a bit of work as you can see, below is a photo taken when I got the plot! As we speak its getting a bit out of hand in places but it is also producing some crops and one of the best things about it is there are 5-6 proper fruit trees on the plot. These are at the far end near the shed. At the moment its just being kept in check but I'm planning on making a proper plan for the plot.

 

The problem is I've worked so hard on my other plot I can't bear to let it go just yet so at the moment I've got two big plots. I might have to reassess this crazy scheme  if it gets too much....

My garden companion, Bob the cat, is still going strong, well he sleeps more than he used to and that's saying something.

Lovely to get back writing, lets hope I can keep it up!