11 Sept 2013

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

My flowering veg patch


This was my veg patch a couple of weeks ago at the end of August.  Sun shining, bees buzzing ... it felt like the best of summer as I walked around picking fresh raspberries and tomatoes.  Crouching by the low wall around the central veg patch bed, this view looks more like a cottage garden - you'd never suspect that I was standing in a sea of concrete paving slabs and overlooked by about 50 flats, would you?

With the weather having become suddenly autumnal over the last few days, I wanted to post this photo as a reminder of one of summer's peaceful golden moments.  It will also remind me that, in spite of feeling that I hadn't achieved much this year, this part of the garden flourished with herbs, rhubarb, raspberries, sweet corn, mountain spinach (orach), beans, nasturtiums (red, white, orange), phlox and echinacea. There's also five varieties of tomato, a forest of sunflowers and a cabbage growing to the right in there.

I think the weather is set to stay gloomy for a while but I'm hoping that we're due a little more summer after the long wait for spring to arrive earlier this year .


16 comments:

  1. What a lovely photo Caro a little bit of heaven in the middle of London - I wish I could grow Echinacea I have tried several times but they just don't like me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Elaine - and you're right, it is my little bit of country heaven. When I'm there, I can almost forget that I'm overlooked by so many people! The echinacea is growing in a very sunny place, 6 hours of sunshine when available, and on quite good top soil over London clay. It took a while to get going (one flower in the first year!) but has gone from strength to strength since! Why not try in a pot? My plant was £2 from Morrisons!

      Delete
  2. I think I spotted a bee on one of the flowers too so they must also like echinaceas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's actually two bees in this photo, Sue - the bees absolutely love echinacea and this plant is the one to go for if you want to get good bee photos! I'm about to post a selection of those photos on my Flickr account. I tend to buy plants that attract bees, so good for pollinating the veg!

      Delete
  3. I love echinacea, I must get a plant for my garden. That's such a tranquil photo, you really wouldn't believe that you're in the middle of London, though I think you've managed really well to create your own little haven. It's a bit brighter here today, the sun's trying to break through.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of these plants would look lovely in a sunny spot in your garden, Jo. They bloom later in the year so it's brilliant for bringing late season colour to the garden - and if you leave the seedheads, you get winter interest too!!

      Delete
  4. You grow such a lot on your plot, it looks beautiful with the echinacea in this photo. It must be so peaceful working among all your plants, you could almost forget the concrete and traffic that surrounds you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As long as I can't hear the neighbours (or, sometimes, their music!), I'm in a little world of my own! People forget that it's possible to grow a fair amount in a small space - the main veg patch is only 30 square metres (10 x 3) but I do cram a lot in!! It's an oasis that I look forward to being in during the summer months!

      Delete
  5. It all looks and sounds good. I'm sure that there'll be some more fine days! Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gosh I hope you're right, Flighty! If only to get my winter veg in! I'm planning on trying to grow winter salad over the forthcoming months so a few more fine days would be welcome!

      Delete
  6. It's stunning, absolutely stunning. I do love echinacea, it's beautiful. I have a white one that was a similar price from Tesco I think! I also felt that I hadn't achieved much this year, but you are right, when it's listed out it seems like quite a bit. You really have done so well, bringing such beauty to the middle of the city. Let us hope those flowers last a little longer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww, thanks, CJ! It does take a bit of motivation to persevere sometimes but I feel it's worth it when people comment on how lovely the garden is. Many of the tenants who overlook the garden say how much they love to look out on it. I think the flowers should last for a bit longer, then I leave the seedheads for the birds and a bit of winter interest!

      Delete
  7. Can feel summer shimmering out of your photo Caro. Still a few days until the equinox so let's hope that summer returns :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love the idea of summer shimmering, Anna - we're having a week for words, aren't we!! I keep hoping for a long summer like we had a couple of years ago but it's quite chilly at nights here, even with the extra warmth of living in a city so just a little bit of warmth in the day would be appreciated!

      Delete
  8. A true cottage garden, vegetables fruit and flowers all jumbled in together. Lovely sight!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks rusty duck - now if only I could find a way to expand out into the concrete without upsetting the neighbours!! Strangely, (to my mind) there ARE some people that don't want to look out onto greenery and trees. Weird.

      Delete

Thank you to everyone who leaves a comment, it helps to know that my scribblings are being read! If you have a question, I'll answer it here or contact me via the 'Contact Me' form at the top.

Comment moderation is on to avoid spam nonsense getting published. No offence to genuine commenters who are very welcome!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...