I wish to apologise profusely for failing to publish the results of the Spring Competition during which I had planned to feature several orange coloured blooms BUT suddenly, just like the rest of you, my activities were in SHUTDOWN and I didn't see anyone for ten weeks. For years I had appreciated some support on most days from a team of three helpers. They helped me with the routine tasks of stocking up the bird feeders, reading the Gas and Electricity meters (because I have solar panels on one of the Cottage's roofs, I like to see on a sunny day whether I have harnessed more energy from the sun than I have used) and this happened quite often earlier this year. Also, if we hadn't had any rain for a while they would also collect cans of water from one of the five rain water harvesting barrels or tanks and distribute it to wherever it was currently needed. Unfortunately, there are still no tanks on the south side of the garden, so I sadly have to rely on numerous taps connected to the mains water supply for the trees and shrubs near the track and on the front of the Cottage AND on the Monday in March before the sudden shutdown command, Reg had discovered that the stop tap under the sink had ceased up, seemingly permanently.
RESULT: for ten weeks I was dragging heavy hoses or gallons of water up, down and around for most of every day. If I wasn't doing this, I was gathering crates of flower pots, full of near to blooming spring flowering bulbs, nearer to the tanks or to one of the three functioning taps. I was fortunate to have an offer of help for a few hours from Nick, my IT tutor, so he also brought his own mower and interfered with the rapid growth of grasses on the lawn, and then brought numerous pots nearer to the house. Thanks so much, Nick.
Eventually, I managed to purchase a total of thirty plastic, gravel trays and two lightweight hoses via E bay and after a few weeks I also got Dyno Rod in to install a switch under the sink which replaces the tap that was also hard for me to reach. - A brilliant move which aids the independence of this disabled "writer". One day I aim to get all of the 20-year-old stop taps replaced.
Back to the trays: I gradually loaded them with the pots, that could now water themselves by using the shallow water-holding reservoirs which I could refill using the new hoses, and the trays are now in service again supporting hundreds of pots of summer-flowering bulbs. I am obviously a "glutton for punishment" but truly excited to be now watching the emerging leaves of dahlias, and nerines, which I have tried to get to flourish for years - wish me luck this time.
Of course, the daffodils, irises and tulips opened as my reward for my efforts, but Reg who had spent hours potting them up missed the lot. I was pleased to be able to offer a few to the much-appreciated volunteer helpers who brought me some essential items from the village when I heard belatedly about this excellent scheme that our Parish Council had introduced. I've lost just a little weight, which I'm pleased about and I'm also thrilled to have nearly emptied two freezers. During April, much of my daily diet consisted of fresh, purple-spouting Broccoli spears, successfully cropped by me for the first time. (In 2019, the plants grew to over six foot without producing a single bloom!).
During May, I enjoyed very young Broad Beans as part of a daily stir fry meal - then I let the pods swell and so now I just have plenty of beans to plant for next year. Fortunately, the runner bean seeds that I saved from last year, and poked quickly into some trays, have been reinstated by Reg near to some new strings on the raised bed. Almost perfect timing, as I have just one plastic box of frozen beans left from last year's challenge to keep up with production. Reg tells me I should harvest them when they are really young which might reduce the preparation time before the blanching and freezing processes. I'll try it next month - if they crop well.