another week gone by ...

The courgettes are slowing down, probably because its been so dark for the last week - I don't think we had any sunshine at all. It would be great the courgettes only ever grew this big.



Looks like a few more will be arriving before too long. I've not yet plucked up courage to try the flowers .. .maybe next year



My squash is now hand sized .. I have my fingers crossed that it is going to ripen in time. Ive noticed another couple of babies on the other vines, but its way too late for them I fear.



Here are my Scarlet Emerald, OH is not keen on them, so I don't think we'll bother with those next year



These are my borlotti beans - they are very vibrant ... I've not tried them yet. I was thinking of drying the beans and adding to soup, but I read recently that they are far better eaten fresh. Just need a recipe now ..



My parsnips (all 4 of them) are looking good so far:



I need to turn the compost, as its getting a little compacted and horrid. At the moment it seems to be full of tiny flies too. Oh, I've just realised I didn't cover it back over ... oh well ...



There has been a lot of activity in the allotment next to Ken and a month or so ago some chickens moved in. I went round to introduce myself and have a little look at the chooks. There are about 6, some brown ones and whitey-grey ones (technical term LOL). The guy who has taken over the lottie (Rozzo, Rizzo ??) said he's getting between 4 - 6 eggs a day, so he's selling them: 6 for £1.00. I might have to sample some. If you look (very) hard in the photo below you can just make out one of the brown ones.



Apparently the foxes are very brazen and saunter up to the chicken run and have a good look (chhosing dinner no doubt) before strutting off. I have to say that the cage doesn't look terribly strong, but he has kept chickens before, so I'm assuming he knows what he is doing.

I think the swede is ready to try ... pity I didn't get any carrots this season. I think they'll go in the greenhouse next year. I'll save one for halloween, as I've not got any pumpkins to carve.



Hmm, something has been burrowing in the alfalfa bed. The adjacent bed in Nick's lottie had an even bigger hole - right under his raspberries. Presumably its a rabbit.





At least the flowering bindweed is providing late season food for the bees





The autumn rapsberries are appearing, but they are not a patch on the summer ones ... still there might just be enough for chocolate brownie cakes before the end of the season.





I've noticed lots of dead bumble bees over the last couple of months, varying sizes, but all looking remarkably healthy .. apart from being dead obviously :-)



The gladioli's are slowly appearing, they are very delicate and far too pretty for the allotment.


The nastursiums are really vibrant, I have a mix of bright orange and burnt orange: