Spring Pleasures, Creative Urges and Chickens

The garden in late April is a bit in-between! The crocuses are over, the hyacinths have faded and there will be a lull before the perennials put on a show. Here and there though I find some lovely flowers and the blossom on the fruit trees is far from over. Apple blossom is yet to show but pears are shedding their petals like snowflakes. Some are drifting into the pond.

A few late daffodils are pretty, and forget-me-nots are growing where they will. The rhododendron is beautiful and gives a pleasing splash of colour in the far corner of the garden. Pansies and a few other treasures are still giving lots of pleasure.

Spring shrubs are flowering too. The berberis is lovely with its egg-yolk yellow blossom and the rosemary has abundant blue flowers.

We enjoyed the first rhubarb of the year. Brought to the boil, drained, rinsed and drained again to reduce that “bite” on the teeth, then gently stewed with sugar for a few minutes. A delicious Spring treat.

My F1 Hybrid sprouts haven’t germinated well. Only a few popped through the seed compost and those that did have distorted leaves. I suspect it was poor seed because I’ve had no problems with other things. I will have to sow again but with different seed. Can’t do without my Christmas sprouts.

The “Red Winter” kale is over now. It began to form flower buds as the plants matured but these are even more of a treat than the leaves. I can eat them raw, they’re so sweet and tender. When I’m preparing the kale for steaming I’m nibbling them all the time.

Sprout tops are really good too. The small leaves which grow at the top of the plant are far too good to throw away. They have excellent flavour and steam to a soft texture in minutes or good to add to a stir-fry.

The outdoor onions are growing well but need weeding. Unfortunately, I daren’t remove the fine mesh cover to do that or the Allium Leaf Miner fly will get in and lay eggs on them. The resulting larvae just destroy the crop, so the weeds will have to stay. It might be safer next month because the fly lays eggs from March through April.

Finally took the plunge and removed the winter lettuces from the greenhouse bed. They’ve been wonderful, tasty and generous, but I really needed to plant the tomatoes. The bed was refreshed with homemade compost and loam. The loam was made from clumps of grass enclosed in bags and left for a couple of years to break down. Lovely stuff.

Now the tomatoes are in. I planted them a bit deeper than in the pots so that extra roots will form around the base of the stems and I put some canes in place to support them as they grow. They’re looking green and healthy. I will feed them with comfrey pellets or liquid seaweed when they start to produce fruit. Fingers crossed for lots of tomatoes in the summer and preserves later.

I have three “Roma” and three “Lampadina St. Marzano”. Both varieties are plum tomatoes. I like these for their sweet juicy flesh, few seeds and thin skins. Perfect for processing in preserving jars, using my pressure cooker, for winter storage.

Although I can’t keep animals myself I was pleased to hear that our neighbours have had chickens. Three hens and a lovely little cockerel. There is one big brown hen and two pale grey hens with their handsome cockerel who has the same beautiful silver-grey feathers. We’re enjoying hearing him announcing his presence. I took a few photos. Poultry keepers will know exactly what kind they are.

I shall draw some pictures of the cockerel and enjoy painting his beautiful neck and tail feathers. Might paint with acrylics or oils to capture that subtle pale grey colouring.

Here’s a very colourful cockerel I painted a few years ago.

Feeling creative reminded me it was time I restocked my knitting yarn. I haven’t any immediate plans for knitting but I love to have a stash of yarn ready to dive into when the mood strikes. Such wonderful colours and textures stir the imagination and help to pass the time when not much else is happening.

I thought perhaps after the Winter there might be sales on and I could find a few bargains. I found some gorgeous yarns. Acrylic mixed with wool, cotton for summer tops, double knitting and chunky textures. So exciting to see them waiting until I decide what to do with them.

With you again next week, when I’ll have my latest cake recipe to share with you. Enjoy the last days of April. Warmer days next month, I hope, and more to do in the garden. Bye for now.