Enjoying an English Strawberry

At the end of September last year, my friend Cindy surprised me with a bucket full of baby strawberry plants, runners from the ones in her garden. 

I had not planned to have a strawberry patch on our allotment but as I can never refuse a plant I allocated an area, dug in some horse manure and planted them. 

Now I am delighted to be picking a couple of handfuls every other day. They are very sweet even when just turning pinky red, the variety is Cambridge Vigour and I would recommend it as a good one to grow, said to be good even if you are in a frost pocket. Delicious on your morning cereal or with cream for tea.

My husband made a wooden frame and covered it with net to stop the birds as they love them too. We also laid some straw around the plants to prevent the fruit from rotting. 

some I picked this evening for our tea

Back to my indoor sowing, I found this beautiful fabric at the weekend and it inspired some more bunting flags with a strawberry flavour.

Alliums and Aquilegias

Allium albopilosum

After some long awaited heavy rain here in the last few days our garden and allotment are recovering well. March and April have been very dry here in Wiltshire and we have had the hottest April for 350 years.
Our Alliums and Aquilegias, which generally do not mind dry spells, are now giving a good show.
Aquilegias (border perennials) are delightful cottage garden flowers that easily seed around the garden once you have purchased your first plant so giving a better show each year.
They come in many shapes and colours these are some I have in my garden.

This is a dwarft Allium called moly, the flowers here are just coming out.
When in full bloom they measure 9 inches accross, quite spectacular.

In between busy days at the allotment and the usual house hold chores I have made some white wooden bird and heart bunting.

Cannot end this blog without mentioning the wedding. What a fantastic day, my children were glued to the TV having never seen a large Royal event before and my huddy and I enjoyed it so much we where late for our local celebrations.

Lots of food and drink enjoyed by all thanks to Candy and Isabel for organising a great party.
Local school children enjoyed a party the day before and the weather was perfect.

Best wishes to William and Catherine may you have many happy years together.