Wet Flowers, Wildlife and Sausages

Halfway through April! Sunshine and oh, those showers! Heavy downpours and strong winds. How the plants stand up to it is one of nature’s mysteries. A few flowers were a bit mud splashed but most things survived.

The little rain-catchers were well filled. They serve no useful purpose but we enjoy their wet rustiness.

Despite the weather, life is thriving in the garden. I see something most days. A bright green caterpillar nestled in an anemone flower and a smaller, pale one was sheltering inside a leaf in another border. Ladybirds are popping up here and there with their shiny red jackets.

Sadly where there’s life there’s also death. A beautiful robin’s egg lay on the path. One destined never to hatch. Our neighbours cut back their side of our large holly hedge and I think they must have disturbed a nest.

The pear blossom is looking lovely. Pale pink buds opening to creamy white flowers.

New flowers appear as the earlier ones fade. The erythroniums are lovely under the trees. I only have a few but they’re beautiful.

The rhododendron was moved to a new location at the far end of the garden when we had some hard surfaces redone. It seems happy there and putting on a splendid show.

The winter clematis has finished flowering but as the blossoms fade they leave lovely silken tassels.

In the greenhouse I’ve pricked out Cosmos seedlings. They have nice little true leaves now and a good root system so I put them into “plugs” to bring them on a bit more until the risk of frost is past, then I’ll plant them in the garden. I’m hoping for a lovely show during Summer.

The winter lettuce have been fantastic since February and are still producing but I’m afraid they’ll have to go soon as I’ll need the greenhouse bed for tomatoes.

Lettuce is a fantastic crop if you want to save money and have something fresh and delicious to eat whenever you choose. Packets of seed are generous and the seeds germinate easily. Salad crops like mustard leaves and radishes are easy to grow in a limited space and taste far better than anything in the shops. It’s not even necessary to pull up a whole lettuce, as I mentioned last week. I’ve been picking leaves from a few plants two or three times a week since the days lengthened.

Of course, it’s always been important not to waste food but especially now with the high cost of living. I like to use up scraps of meat and make them into something delicious. Last week I had some cooked lamb leftover so I whizzed it up in the food processor, with an onion, a slice of bread, salt and pepper and an egg. With floured hands I made two patties and fried them in a little olive oil. Really tasty with some leftover gravy. These also go really well with chutney or sauce.

This works well with any kind of cooked meat, chicken or turkey. A good way to use meat which is a bit tough or dry.

One of our favourite meals uses leftover cooked sausages. I slice an onion and cook it gently in a spoonful of oil until softened, then add a little water and half a vegetable stock cube, sliced carrots, florets of cauliflower and some frozen rice. I slice the sausages into chunks and add these to the pan. I bring it to the boil and check the water. Not too much or the rice will be sloppy but enough to keep the pan moist. Then I turn the heat down and simmer it for about 15 minutes with the lid on, until the vegetables are tender and most of the water has evaporated. When it’s ready I remove the pan from the heat and stir in a spoonful of soured cream. This makes a delicious creamy sauce. Simple, tasty and satisfying.

That’s all for now. Fingers crossed for sunny days and warmer nights. Enjoy whatever you’re doing come rain or shine. Bye for now. With you again next week.