Seed heads and local greens
October 3, 2011
Who would have thought it ? Shorts in October. Mine are Liberty Print, a ditsy blue floral pattern, roomy and, I’m reassured by daughters, not embarrassingly revealing of well worn but not quite over the hill legs. Shorts, hot sun, swims in the lido, I feel like we’re having a free holiday in London’s glorious Indian summer.
It’s been so unseasonally warm that rubbish the bin men refused to collect last week because it wasn’t ‘presented’ correctly (all of 20 cm away from where it should be on the pavement) is now nearly a fortnight old and heaving with maggots. I am going in search of the hosepipe for some urgent maggot removal.
Thankfully the only things rotting in the garden are windfalls from the apple tree. In fact, the roses are continuing to bloom and are looking rather bushy and luxuriant for the time of year. It’s a bumper one for spiders, who spin their silky tightropes between the desiccated seed heads of the poppies, and alliums, and any other suitably elevated stem or leaf surface.
PS bird visits this week: blackbirds, thrushes, blue tits, wood pigeons, magpies, jays, wrens, robins, nuthatches, a woodpecker
PPS I’ve just cooked up salmon, ginger, garlic, and deliciously sweet cherry tomatoes from a sample bag of produce from Local Greens. This not for profit weekly veg bag scheme is run by four enthusiasts living in Herne hill and east Dulwich, SE London, and provides the local area with seasonal veg from small organic or spray free farms, which are as local as they can find. (The closest farm is less than 11 miles away) . The bag is also stuffed with a couple of corn on the cobs, a bunch of plump beetroot, runner beans, red onions, a vibrant yellow squash, chard, and some deliciously earthy looking potatoes. All very fresh and tempting!
Love the weekly updates!
Comment by Debra | October 3, 2011 @ 2:25 pmOur veg co-op is sketchy at best, and the so-called farmers markets? Well, beyond sketchy. We do have a reliable regional market that deals with purveyors in my area, but nothing’s organic. *heavy sigh* Roasting some cherry tomatoes tonight to sauce a fat spaghetti squash. So happy you’re finally getting some late summer weather in London. I understand it was dismal there most of the season. I on the other hand am delighted with a bit of autumn. I dropped below 50 (Fahrenheit) last night. Hooray! Thanks for being there.
Comment by Jean Prescott | October 3, 2011 @ 4:45 pmI find your shot of the poppy head ultimately endearing. Its frail skin and pale colour together create this delicate image, they mark of the time passing, but beautifully and gently.
Comment by Gosia | October 3, 2011 @ 10:37 pmJust saw you on Design Sponge!! Bravo!
Comment by Diane | October 4, 2011 @ 4:33 pmThe salmon, ginger and cherry tomato dish sounds lovely. As for shorts in October; I had put mine away only to get them out again. It’s great to be able to eek out the summer wardrobe for so long.
Comment by Karen | October 4, 2011 @ 5:16 pmSo happy to see you posting weekly Jane! And just checked out your lovely home on Design Sponge. Can you tell me where you sourced the cork board tiles for your office walls? Are they self-adhesive?
Comment by Viv | October 6, 2011 @ 9:21 pm