A Barrow Full of Plants.
As much as I had hoped, there just wasn’t an opportunity to get out in the garden for long yesterday. Alison popped around unexpectedly with some plants from her garden. She is so generous. Do you find that everyone who loves to garden seem to get just as much pleasure in sharing and giving advice, just as they do spending time working on their plot?
Alison’s barrow contained three yellow Cornus, (I think these are Cornus stolonifera) some larkspur for the cutting garden, and some angelica, which I can use as a cut flower but also to cook with. Apparently there are also some strawberry plants to follow. In exchange, all I had to offer were white borage seedlings, which didn’t seem to be a very fair swap in comparison to her healthy plants.
Last night when I checked the hens and closed their trap door for the night, I took a few moments to cover the broad beans with fleece that I had scrounged from my friend Tony. To be honest, I felt dead on my feet but I knew that I would regret not taking a few minutes to provide the tender plants with a little protection. The air was cold and there had been a hail storm earlier in the day.
Up and about early this morning, there are no guests today so no cooked breakfasts to prepare. I wanted to get the hens out in the paddock as soon as possible. They love to scratch and peck in the long grass rather than be cooped up in their run. As I approached the green faded gate that leads to the cutting garden, I felt a faint breeze of wings in the air and suddenly the Barn owl swooped down beside me within arms reach. It was magical. Despite having my camera in hand, I was also carrying a bucket of corn. There was no time to snatch an image. It was a moment that I shall always treasure.
As I write, it is now a beautiful day, the only frost that remains is lingering in the shadows. Just time to ease the fleece away from the broad bean plants and then I had better set to work.