June 19th First strawberries.

We made a quick visit to the plot today. It was beautiful....warm, sunny and no wind. Hooray. The view across to Icklesham and the windmill, is truly amazing. What a location. The wild flower areas are looking promising, cornflowers and corn marigold so far. The dahlias, over-wintered in the ground with cover, are budding up nicely. There are now two waterlily flowers out. The huge water butt is in place....thank you Anne? William`s pumpkin seeds are up, in the greenhouse. I don`t mind watering them, so long as he isn`t going into competition for the biggest on the plot. The second cucumber is dead. I planted a dark buddliea cutting, some ornamental blackberry and a double row of French beans, (seed saved from last year) the latter protected from the rabbits. Steve planted chicory and carrot seed. We picked the first strawberries, some radishes, sweetpeas and leucothemum daisies (long-lasting if dead-headed and also as a cut flower.) The nettles are growing through the wire fencing and encrouching on the paths. That will be the next job. We will still retain the wide band of nettles which surround the garden for the wildlife which feed from them, but I am fed up being stung as I walk round. One mystery. Hollie, the scrarecrow is getting shorter. Will keep you posted.