eating my greens

So this week's excitement included an epic battle between a tiny house spider and a vine weevil. Who knows how it managed to get in this web underneath the kitchen wall cupboards but it met its fate there. After two days of struggle the spider triumphed:

I spent the other week trying to eat something home grown every day, having kale in my scrambled eggs and salad sarnies for lunch, culminating in home made pesto:

It was pretty good but I think maybe I overdid the garlic. And it took me all summer to grow enough basil.

It finally rained:

but the sunflower finally bloomed:

and my wallflower cuttings, having sat, still alive but not rooting, for several months now, have new growth and are looking good for next year:

I have a pile of books to review, but am off to Claire's and a swim in the English Channel.

Stay safe. Be kind. Put a hot water bottle on that bad back.

winter veggies

The tomatoes have been a particular joy this year after the failure last, but I think things may have gotten a little out of hand. It seems like every last tomato seed that made its way into the worm bin over the last year decided to germinate and there have been tomato seedlings in every pot in the garden. It was getting ridiculous:

Meanwhile another of last year's no-shows, the rudbeckia, has enjoyed the hot weather:

And despite a minor slug attack the two kinds of winter chicory that I bought from Vital Seeds have replaced the lettuce and I have high hopes (watch this space):

Was doing some cutting back (and pulling out of tomato plants) and came across this little guy:

Meanwhile in Japan, the Shinkansen (Bullet Train):

Stay safe. Be kind. Take the Last Train to Clarksville.

Comings and Goings

Two passionflower plants have died in this spot, but the jasmine has survived the summer, not putting on much height but going strong, and last week we finally got some flowers.

Each year I seem to have had plants that resisted all my efforts, and this year seems to be no exception. The sunflowers I planted have grown tall. Quite a few have self seeded in random places, and also grown well. But none of them have any flower heads:

Other things have moved on, and seeds abound across the yard, all promising interesting things for next year. Except the coriander that I may dry and use:

Stay safe. Be kind. Save your seeds.