Presents for the ducks

We bought the ducks two presents at the weekend.

Firstly, to hold down the edge of the liner around the pond, two rolls of turf. Special offer at B&Q, although they don't seem to appreciate the cost, only how tasty they are. I am not sure how long they will stay around the edge of the pond as they seem to have great fun, swimming up to the edge and pulling a chunk off.



Secondly, and another bargain from Tesco, a large hamster ball. One of the problems we have with the large pond is green water. This is mainly due to the fact that we have removed the barley straw as the ducks kept pulling it apart. Tracy was telling us about a brilliant idea she had after seeing a barley straw ball in a magazine at the same time as her son's hamster was scooting across the floor in its ball. At £2 we thought it was worth giving it a try. Here is the ball filled with straw and it is currently sitting on the bottom of the pond. I will keep you updated on how successful it is as a straw container.

The new pond

We have been thinking of remodelling the large pond for a while. This is the one that the ducks can't get at unless we are there. It is also the one that is in full sun so at this time of year ferments better than my ginger beer.

Katy gave us a huge piece of pond liner left over from when she did her pond in the garden, and we had tried using it to enlarge the plastic pond that we got from Barry. Unfortunately, the result was a smaller pond than we expected and loads of leaks.




Emptying the pond was fun especially as there was a thick layer of sludge at the bottom. Not something that you want to smell on a warm spring day, but I am sure it will do wonders for the compost bin.




The ducks helped with digging the new hold and filling in the deeper bit left by the plastic liner. They also made sure that there were no young green tasty weed shoots and no worms or bugs. Which I am sure is a good thing in the base of a pond! They also loved mud wallowing where the water had gone from the pond.


Eventually, once their work was done, Nick could move in and create a dish with lovely sloping sides for easy access.......







We then lined with carpet. I know old carpet is now banned from allotment sites in many areas, but this is only for crop use not as a pond liner. (Just had to cover myself there in case we were reported).......






We then put the (washed) liner back in, and started to fill with water. This is the reason why we have such strong arms as the water source is from a trough and the only way of moving it is by watering can. We have two each and it didn't take as long as we expected to fill but we did have a well earned cup of tea at the end of it.




There is still quite a bit of tidying up to do but the ducks don't seem to mind too much that there is liner showing on the edges. At one point there were eight ducks in the pond and they soon discovered that they could leap about, flapping like mad, dive under the water, and do a running jump in from the bank.











You may have spotted our new little yellow duck. He usually lives in the greenhouse but heard about the new pond and wanted to give it a try.

Easter is for the boys

Another one of those wonderful events happened over Easter - Matt came to stay. You should all know what that means - lots of boy jobs got done.





The circus tent has been completed (excluding the bunting) so the fruit is protected. While we are there we open the door so that the ducks can get in and ensure that the ground is kept clear of bugs and grubs that we don't want on the soft fruit....



.....and the cover is on the brassica cage (at the top of 51/52. In addition, the fence has been repaired so I feel that I can sleep at night again without fear of destruction by pigeon and rabbit.


The fine netting keeps it so warm under the brassica cage that I have planted out peas, cauliflower, chard, cabbage and baby corn as they can stand a bit of frost but can't stand pigeons.


I decided to buy the allotment a present, especially in light of there being three of us sharing one flask. While the boys were working hard, I was able to sit and brew. There is no reason why we couldn't keep a good supply of instant soup as well, so hunger will no longer be a reason for packing up work.



A strange eruption has taken place in the bed in the greenhouse, where salad leaves are just starting to peep through the surface. On closer inspection it seems to be a red ants nest. I am not sure how they got in there, but they are not in a hurry to go away. I have watered them well every night but still it keeps coming back. I suppose it could be worse, it could be a slug infestation.


The saying 'the grass is greener' was tested by the ducks at the weekend, when I left the gate open and when I came back, they had decided to explore outside. It was a good job that I wasn't away too long or goodness knows how far they would have gone, or even worse, who's allotment they would have got onto and starting digging up crops.



It has been so warm sunny over the last couple of weeks that the petunias in the hanging baskets in the greenhouse are in flower already. The rate at which the plants are growing they will outgrow the greenhouse before they are able to go outside. It does make me feel good though to feel that summer is on its way.




Every day there is something new - the squash have burst through the surface of the pots. There was no sign yesterday and this is what is here today. They are an amazing example of how clever nature is, and how good water is for you.







Some of the beans that I got from the Heritage Seed Library have grown as well. This is Mrs Fortune.

'Mrs Fortune's' Climbing French Bean
The plant grows to 6ft and is very prolific with pale blue flowers. The pods are smooth, medium green background with dark blue shading and develop into darker blue. The seeds are white with maroon mottling when ripe. They are very tender and not stringy. The seeds were donated by two friends who share an allotment next to each other in Bristol. One of them used to visit an elderly lady called Doris Fortune, in the early 1960s and was given some beans by her. They originated from an old retired gardener who tended the Royal Family's garden at Windsor.





I think I put the butter beans in too early. They are the biggest of the beans and the biggest plants. I am sure this is what Jack started with.








I will once again end on a crafty note. While the boys were working, I finally finished the downstairs toilet by varnishing the walls having put up the sheet music wallpaper, which was from a book anotated as purchased in 1890. This I bought at auction for £8. Anyway, back to the craft item and the bargain of the week. We were at the tip and couldn't resist looking at what they had for sale. We found this mirror which was painted cream and a bit tatty. Having handed over our pound coin we then went to B&Q and spent £3.59 on a little tin of black acrylic paint. The final result is a bathroom mirror to be proud of. Saying that, I am thinking of removing the scrolls to just have a plan mirror frame. before you say anything, yes, I was determined not to get in the phote.

Update for Easter

There is a lot going on in all three greenhouses, at the moment but not a lot to photograph as seedlings are so small so I will make sure that regular updates are given. The little greenhouse is home to the brassicas - Kale, sprouts, broccoli etc, as well as dahlias in pots on the ground.





We are diversifying at the allotment as I have a pasion for basketry, I have planted a willow bed. I got the cuttings from Yorkshire Willow. There are a total of 17 varieties (listed below) so we have planted them in such a way that they will make an attractive screen for the ducks as well as being practical.

I am not convinced that I will be able to make anything worthwhile for Christmas 2009 but I am hoping that the willow and wine will solve all my Christmas and birthday problems for years to come.

I think a book on willow weaving would be a good birthday present if anybody is wondering what to get me.




One problem is that the ducks are walking all over the sticks and we are sure that they will nibble off the young shoots when they appear so a bit of duck defence building. Nick is always one for innovation so the netting was a bit that we scavenged and the posts were the frame of Katy's old bed (thank you Ikea).

I can hear you saying, this seems a larger area that the willow bed. A cunning plan here as the rest of this area is going to be for the vinyard. We found one grape reduced at Country Gardens this week so have one already. This is a red wine grape so we will be planting a red rose at the end of the row. We have eight roses in the nursery bed on the allotment. As well as the one red we have three pink, two white and two peach. We are not going to rush to get the others as we need to get appropriate varieties. It is OK for the red, but not sure that we will find pink or peach grapes so we may be keeping a rose bed at the allotment.


The fruit trees are coming out in blossom with the peach having lovely delicate dark pink flowers, but my favourite is the apple blossom with its delicate white flowers and yellow stamen.





Apple isn't too impressed and prefers to lie down amount the blackcurrent bushes. We had to do a bit of animal husbandry this week as she was limping and after close inspection we found a small cut on her foot. We will keep a close eye on here but if there is any fear of infection we mighty have to bring her home for a good clean and to get her some antibiotics if it gets infected.








The big greenhouse is only designed for short people at the moment (or those who can duck) as hanging baskets are started with plug plants. The have a mix of geraniums, coriander, frailing petunia, trailing alysum, and soon will have some tumbling toms added.








Good timing for going back to work on Tuesday as we have a lovely crop of salad leaves ready for cutting. We have done one full cut already and they seem to be growing fast. I have another lot ready to follow on. The boxes next to them have spring onions and carrots growing so we should have a green salad soon.







It shouldn't be long before we have some lovely new potatoes. I have planted two lots in the greenhouse, and the warm weather in the last couple of weeks has really brought them on. It should only be another couple of weeks before we see flowers. The only fear of growing in this way is that you get a lot of top and not much underneath i.e. not a good crop of spuds.








You might think that the whole week has been spent on the allotment. Well, this is not the case.

A couple of months ago we bought a chair at auction for £12. It is a lovely looking chair but somebody had decided that it would look better as a black and white minstrel's chair so there was nothing for it but to start stripping





Two hours and a lot a scraping and scrubbing later, it is starting to look fantastic. It looks like it is traditionally made with elm seal and the rest in Oak. There is still quite a bit of work to do but it should be a lovely piece of furniture when it is finished.

It only remains to be seen if its final home is in Hampshire or Kent.





Willow varieties


1. Salix Alba (White Willow) - White willow is a tall tree which generally grows to between 15 and 30m tall. The bark is greyish-brown in colour. The twigs are brown or olive, Buds are dark brown. Salix Alba is common by rivers and streams. It generally becomes scarcer westwards, especially in Wales and Scotland. Full sun to light shade; ample water; tolerates a wide range of soil and conditions.

2. Salix Alba Chermesina (Scarlet Willow) - Rich yellow to red rods giving excellent winter colour. Can grow to 7m, very attractive, yellow-red annual growth, with the colour improving the more pruning is done.
Full sun to light shade; ample water; tolerates a wide range of soil and conditions. Of all the many types of Salix alba, this is one of the best for winter colour. Great ornamental willow.

3. Salix Alba Fragilis (Flanders Red) - Basketry willow that is wonderful to work with due to it's slightly waxy skin. The red autumn colour dries to an orange. Great ornamental willow. Changes from the green in summer to red winter. Full sun to light shade; ample water; tolerates a wide range of soil and conditions.

4. Salix Alba Vitellina (Golden Willow) - Golden willow is a tall graceful tree which can grow to 30m. The year old twigs are its most distinguishing characteristic as they are bright yellow or orange making them very conspicuous in winter months. Thrives in wet conditions and variety of soil types, full sun or part shade. The strong flexible rods are excellent for basketry. Coppicing yields 2m stems with little branching. Ideal for hedges or to enhance winter landscape with colourful stems.

5. Salix Candida - Very attractive willow with thick stems, growing 1.5m per year in sheltered locations, having large “furry” leaves, with large yellow catkins. Salix Candida is from North America, a very ornamental willow which grows into a small shrub up to 2.5m in height. The hairy rods remind of deer antlers. A further feature of this willow are the very large buds.

6. Salix Daphniodes (Continental Purple) - A hardy daphnoides, taller rods can be used as uprights in living willow sculptures, with the smaller rods being pliable enough for basketry. Great winter colour with new growth.

7. Salix Fragilis Decipiens (White Welsh) - A basketry willow with a very light bark colour, giving a good contrast when used together with darker rods in coloured basketwork.

8. Salix Nigricians (Black Willow) - Fabulous willow with wonderful pitch black bark which has a purple sheen to it. Young growth is a lovely black and green. Grows to 10m. Shining ebony coloured stems throughout winter. Prune hard annually in spring for best bark effect. A lovely ornamental willow. Full sun to shade and will tolerate a wide range of soil types.

9. Salix Pentandra (Bay Willow) - A large willow shrub or small tree usually growing to 5-7m high but exceptionally known to reach 17m. Salix pentandra is frequently found by streams and rivers and on wet ground. Bay willow appeals to gardeners because of its attractive foliage and catkins and is said to have fragrance like Bay leaves.

10. Salix Purpurea (Purple Willow) - Can grow up to 5m high or make a lovely shrub or hedge. Stems are slender, tough and flexible, tinged with purple. This is a traditional basket making variety, producing medium-fine rods up to 2m long. It has lovely blue/green leaves, and very attractive foliage with colourful stems which stand out in winter especially. Ideal for basketry, hurdles, or furniture. Full sun to part shade, thrives with regular watering, will tolerate range of soil types.

11. Salix Purpurea (Cohu Blue) - Slender leaved variety, can grow up to 5M. It has lovely blue/green leaves, and very attractive foliage with colourful stems which stand out in winter especially. Full sun to part shade, thrives with regular watering, will tolerate range of soil types.

12. Salix Purpurea (Green Dicks) - Produces a fine rod with a pale green/yellow stem, which changes to a whitish green in the winter. Can grow up to 5m. Bright olive green new growth, vigorous, especially with an annual pruning. Full sun to part shade, thrives with regular deep watering, tolerates a wide range of soil types

13. Salix Sachalinensis (Sekka) - Rods curve round and can be used fresh or dried in flower arrangements. Catkins appear in February, turning first pink and then golden as they mature. Sekka will grow to around 4m height and makes a lovely feature in a garden. Excellent ornamental shrub. Can grow into huge tropical shrub. Very distinctive shaped leaves not found in any other willows.

14. Salix Tortuosa (Corkscrew/Contorted) - A fast growing, spreading deciduous tree which can grow up to 10m with narrow tapering bright green leaves. The corkscrew effect in the stems being most evident after leaf fall. More drought tolerant than most willows. Contortion increases with vigor so pollarding enhances it. Thrives best in moist soil conditions and prefers full sun.

15. Salix Triandra (Black Maul) - Salix Triandra or ‘Almond Leaved Willow’ is a small bushy tree or robust spreading shrub that can reach 8m. The bark is smooth and dark grey. The twigs are olive-brown, the leaves are regularly serrated and dark green above and green below. One of the most attractive and fragrant willows and is being used more frequently as a garden shrub. Owing to it’s dark maroon-black new growth and very bright autumn colours it is highly ornamental. Triandra is a traditional basket making variety and has deep brown stems. It is also ideal for hedging, and living willow structures. Full sun to part shade, thrives with regular watering and will tolerate wide range of soil types.

16. Salix Viminalis (Common Osier) - Fast growing yellow/green variety, long shoots but lower number of shoots than other varieties. Hardy vigorous variety, producing long straight stems with growth up to 2m a year, traditionally used to make baskets for fishing and agriculture. Other uses include living structures, furniture, drawing charcoal, wind-breaks, soil stabilisation, waste filtration, and fuel. The stems or ‘Rods’ are very tough and flexible, ideal for construction of living willow structures. Happy in full sun or part shade and thrives on regular watering. It will tolerate a wide variety of soil types.

17. Salix Viminalis Tora - Hardy fast growing yellow/brown variety (cross between Salix Viminalis & Salix Schwerinni). Long shoots and a somewhat lower number of shoots than other varieties. Its yield is the highest of all varieties available. Very hardy vigorous variety, producing long straight stems with growth up to 3m a year. Similar in properties to Salix Viminalis, traditionally used to make baskets for fishing and agriculture. Other uses include living structures, furniture, drawing charcoal, windbreaks, soil stabilisation, waste filtration, and fuel. The stems or ‘Rods’ are very tough and flexible, ideal for construction of living willow structures. Happy in full sun or part shade and thrives on regular watering. Will tolerate a wide variety of soil types.