Tatnam Organic Patch

tea ceremony…

Kate enjoys Andy’s rhubarb crumble

I found a rose chafer (?) beetle while planting out beans

Brendan and baby Lilian…

Tat and Brendan on a break with new baby Lilian…

Oh No, disaster.

Mark and Gary aren’t here. It is probably time to panic. Or maybe time to play with fire, as the storm kettle needs someone else to tend it.

Brendan had previously found one of the bird boxes made by Barry’s brother Bill, which had left its perch in a tree by the compound. He resited it at head height in the willow by the main pond, and two blue-tits were busy to-and-fro, presumably with a clutch in the nest, even with a conversation going on nearby.

And our youngest ever visitor, Lilian Picknell at under 10 days old, made her presence felt in the patch, with regular appeal to either or both parents for attention, and to everyone else for curiosity and admiration.

The beeman – Dave ? made a couple of appearances, saying he is concerned that his bees have dysentry. Not sure whether he disappeared for more gear, or for a quieter time to investigate their plight. They seem active to me.

More beans were planted – the ones from two weeks ago seem to be struggling to take off – no Jack in the Beanstalk this year. So more runner beans, and Manuela brought down french beans too.

Kate, Kat and Harriet made further valient attempts to turn the new beds from bindweed nursery to productive garden.

The new Asparagus bed has made it easier to spot the weeds, and produced at least a few spears worth having.

Asparagaus beds seem successful

And me ? well I managed to make 3 pots of tea with the storm kettle, and in Jan’s absence, a passable rhubarb crumble that seemed to disappear fast enough, and the occasional dilemma to decision to support.

Perhaps that should be the motto of TOP – we’ll muddle through !

The workday started wet, which is good for the plants, but galling after the sunny weather last week. Andy was there first, trying to re-fit the watering system before all the rain finished.

May workday teabreak sheltering from rain

Soon the greenhouse was full of people sipping tea and sheltering from the rain, but as the sun broke through, much weeding was done, Brussel Sprouts planted, and another attempt to erradicate the perenniel bindweed in the new bed was made. The bindweed probably won.

Bindweed regrowth from short stem

Brendan and Tat brought down a splendid new sign, in need of varnishing and mounting, both well underway.

Marks great soupy stew contained nettles, dandelion, good king henry, and diverse other weeds. Afraid the bindweed isn’t known for culinary qualities, Gary was wondering if there is any good reason for it to exist other than to frustrate our efforts at eradication.

Tatnam Patch new sign painted by Tat