An allotment for Christmas?
Did the snow catch you by surprise last weekend? My back garden is looking rather sorry for itself now the snow has killed off the tender plants I'd forgotten to bring under cover.
The Heliotropium Cherry Pie I originally got from Coton Manor, and grew cuttings from, which filled a pot on its own beautifully? It's now a goner, as are my usually resilient fuchsias in pots and a trailing pelargonium, none of which I'd got around to taking cuttings from. Ho hum.
And the overgrown clematis grandiflora covering the wall has been ripped off its moorings due to the weight of the snow, the age of the wall and my dodgy drilling.
However, I can't help feeling a little satisfied about the arrival of early snow – after all, the cold has a cleansing effect on viruses and beasties that I couldn't conquer.
Remember this time last year? It was so warm through the winter months everyone was mowing lawns and seeing everything come up weeks early.
At least with a spot of cold weather the garden's seasonal clock can get into sync.
I've enjoyed watching the effect adding a couple more feeders has had on the birds – there's loads of them now every morning – thanks to a combination of a metal peanut feeder, open wild seed trays and some hanging fat balls.
However, the squirrel must also be back, even though I haven't seen him. Cheeky little so and so.
Up at the far end there's a few fat balls hanging on the shed, and underneath a bin for collecting leaves has been tipped over and the fat balls snipped from their hangers and stolen. The tiny teeth marks show the evidence.
I'm not quite at the shot gun stage of my gardening colleague James Alexander Sinclair in the rural south of the county – mind you, I do live in one of the rougher ends of town, so perhaps I could start taking potshots out of the back window without arousing too much attention.
I think for now I'll just have to become more cunning with hanging them.
A big plug next for the efforts of the allotment association at St David's allotments in Northampton.
Over the decades, their once fully occupied 246 plot allotments have become fewer, and plots have become overgrown.
Now they've seized the initiative to create 20-25 new lots for people who would like to take on one of their own.
St Davids Allotments are situated behind the houses in Eastern Avenue North.
Secretary Lillian Osborne said: "Over the years, in keeping with lots of other fields, ours got very neglected.
Early in July a new committee was formed, and during the summer they worked hard to improve our field. NBC Allotment Office have helped by recently clearing some of the unused plots.
We have several vacant plots which if filled would add to the community spirit we are try to foster."
It's a great time of year to get a plot, as you can get planning and preparing the soil for next spring.
I'd heartily recommend it!
If you'd like to be considered for a St David's plot, contact Lillian on 01604 844765.
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Weather for Northampton
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
