The garden

So far I've blogged mostly about my travels. Today I'd like to show you my garden. I have never really had much interest in growing things and always used to view the garden as a space for the niece and nephew to play or for partying (our bonoween party used to be the stuff of legend - duck apple and pumpkins alongside a bonfire and fire works). My dad was the gardener in the family and he used to grow the same things every year. His borders had dahlias, chrysanthemums and marigolds and he grew tomatoes and cucumbers in his greenhouse. When he died I inherited his greenhouse and I took on the gardener role. Initially it was a way of still feeling close to my dad but over the years I have grown to love planting all the fruit and veg and then cooking with it. Nothing gives me more pleasure than serving up a pasta sauce that is made entirely from ingredients grown in my own garden. Tomatoes, onions, garlic and the basil all straight from soil to pan in half an hour. Here's a couple of before and after photos. The first was taken in May at the start of the growing season, the second in August all ready to harvest. It's not that difficult really. Nature wants to grow.

I've learned a few things about gardening and myself over the past few years. I now only grow what I like to eat. I grew runner beans for the first two years, they're a doddle to grow and look really pretty - pity I hate their taste! I filled the freezer with bags of them until I realised I was never going to eat them and threw them away - I hate waste too. I had to learn to be patient ( very difficult for me). In the first few years I was pulling carrots and onions out of the ground when I felt they should be ready resulting in a harvest of small carrots and onions. I now leave them as long as possible and the results are much more satisfying although I do still get the occasional comedy vegetable.........