Worthing and District Allotments and Gardens Association

Sunday, 27th June

Long time, no write - sorry about that.So what have I been up to then? Well, watering mainly. Much more of this watering can carrying and Mrs N and I will have arms down to our knees. Still, musn't complain about all this sunshine and it has been possible to to a bit of allotmenting on these long evenings. The other night we went down to do a spot of watering and there had been a fresh delivery of manure. Suddenly the site was alive with swarms of allotmenteers armed with wheelbarrows and forks. An accommodating neighbour lent me a fork so I was able to get a few barrowloads. I've planted out some more cabbage plants which I'll endeavour to keep going and yesterday Bob gave me some grey squash - no idea what they're like but I'll give them a go. He gave them to me as we manned our outdoor plant stand at the Worthing Horticultural summer show on Broadwater green. Pinned alongside is a picture of some of our busy crew.

Then this morning Mrs N and I went to Leonardslee Gardens for one last look before they close to the public this week. Some Eastern European businessman has bought them and wants to keep them for himself. He can't develop them as the gardens are Grade 1 listed, thank goodness, but it's a shame the public can no longer enjoy them. Here's a couple of pictures.

The reason the second photo looks a bit weird is it is actually part of the Doll's House indoors and was taken through a glass window with artificial lighting. I thought the subject matter was suitable for inclusion on this page.

My next social outing is to Pub Night onTuesday - oh, dear! Germany have scored a fourth goal so that's that then.

Thursday, 17th June

All morning on the allotment in full sunshine. Brilliant! But when I say "all morning" I must confess I didn't get there at the crack of dawn. First I had to hang out the washing after breakfast and washing up. I don't know why but I am useless at hanging out washing; I seem to be all thumbs. I break pegs (those bright plastic jobbies), drop items and then some articles it takes me ages to work out which way round they go on the line. Pathetic!

When I got to my allotment there seemed to be some sort of conference going on on the adjacent plot involving chairman Ian but as there were no freebies to be had I made for the far side of the site where I am looking after someone's greenhouse while they're away. Very thoughtful of him, he's rigged up an irrigation system linked to a water butt so all I have to do is turn it on when I arrive and turn it off again when I leave the site. The conference had broken up when I got back to my plot so I got on with planting some cabbages and some nicotiana (tobacco plants). I plant the latter amongst my runner beans in the hope that the flowers will bring in the bees to pollinate my bean flowers. I pottered around picking strawberries, tying things up, weeding, watering and what have you till about 20 to 1 when I went home for lunch. Fast forward to this aternoon, latish, and as I'm talking to Mrs N over a cup of tea in the Levant I remember: I forgot to turn off the irrigation system! So it's back home to get the allotment key then back to my friend's plot. Needless to say, the water butt was empty so yours truly had to fill it up again from an almost nearby trough, 2 watering cans at a time. Still it'll help strengthen my back again.

Sunday, 13th June

Today was one of those days when several gardens were open in Worthing under the National Gardens Scheme, including those in Ambrose Place which I have never visited in all my years in Worthing. I still haven't as Mrs N and I decided instead to visit the gardens of Palatine School and Oak Grove College both of which have something of a horticultural reputation. First we visited Palatine School gardens; a £3.50 ticket give entry to the gardens of both schools. It's amazing what they achieve with their pupils all of whom have special needs. Palatine School caters for the younger children and I am sure they would love some more volunteers to help out if you feel so inclined. The garden appeared to have matured considerably since last year and is looking very established now. It has numerous seating areas if you get tired which was ideal for me practising walking again.

Next we went to Oak Grove College on the Boulevard where the older pupils go. These gardens are not as old but they have certainly come on and look very professional in some areas. A lot of thought and design seem to have gone into producing the finished result although perhaps "finished" is the wrong word as I am sure they will continue to develop. Our guide, Shannon, explained to us that the pupils come up with ideas and designs which are then put to the school council. If approved. on they get with it. Shannon said she worked in the garden twice a week. It's a very diverse garden with woodland areas, dry area, chickens and small animals, a sculpture garden, courtyard, vegetable patch and loads of other stuff. They also served tea and cakes which was a very pleasant way to wind down the afternoon.

On the home front, as my back continues to improve, Mrs N and I have managed to put in some time on the allotment, mainly weeding at the moment. A little drop of rain and some half-decent temperatures and it's amazing how quickliy the little blighters appear and shoot up. It gives me great satisfaction to hoe them down again. In our own vegetable garden I have at last dibbled in a few leeks and sorted out which excess plants to get rid of. Today I got rid of some courgettes, tomatoes, peppers and sunflowers to some neighbour's kids; let's hope it kindles an interest. Any I have left over now will either be composted or taken to the Worthing Horticultural Summer show on Broadwater Green in a fortnight's time. Perhaps I'll see you there.

Friday, 4th June

As I sat on the patio this week basking in the late afternoon sun and enjoying a cool glass of beer, the sweet perfume of the overhanging mock orange was almost intoxicating - well, more intoxicating than the beer I was drinking, which was a weak fizzy lager I'd bought from the loal supermarket because it was on offer. The lazy summer atmosphere was amplifiied by the busy buzzing of numerous insects, mainly, as I dicovered when I opened my eyes, bumble bees seeking nectar in the opening blooms of the cotoneaster which separates the patio from the lawn. Then to cap it off after dinner, a stroll along the prom with Mrs N, one of the joys of living by the seaside. I'd never seen the sea looking so blue. Then as we walked back towards the car ito the sun I was hit good and proper b a seagull! Oh, yes, the joys of living by the seaside!

Thursday, 3rd June

Today Mrs N and I went to an exhibition for over 55's (YES, I AM!) held in the Assembly Rooms in Worthing. Because of my temporary impediment we went by bus and I borrowed a walking stick from a friend. When we gort there, quite early, it was already fairly crowded with stalls for just about every free time activity and support scheme you could think of. I never realised there were so many walking stick experts - I was told off at 2 stands. One thought my walking stick slightly too long for me so I explained I was just borrowing it for the short term from a friend - escape. Then I was caught be another expert who asked to see the rubber thing on the end. "Uneven wear, that sould be replaced." Again I explained but to no avail and my friend's stick had to have a new rubber end. I hope he wasn't sentimentally attached to the old one. "I think it might be a bit long too. Did you know you can get them made to measure?" I was gone.

We could have had a cup of tea there but chose instead to go to the Lime Cafe in the former St Paul's church. All sorts of bric-a-brac stalls and what have you but no disguising its identity as a church, I'm afraid. Still, what decorations there are re quite tasteful and it looks OK on the whole. While we were having a nice cup of tea and a flap jack my eyes fell on an ols fashioned notice advertising allotments so I had to take its picture. Here it is.

Obvously I haven't been doing a great deal in the garden though we did go down to the allotment last night and put up a frame for the runner beans. Been warm, hasn't it? This has led to the other gardening activity - watering. Amazing how quickly some of these young plants dry out. You really hace to watch them. Still, musn't complain; it should bring things on very nicely.