I have planted my First Early Solist spuds in the raised beds in poly tunnel to have new potatoes for Christmas.
I got the seed potatoes from an Irish we sit Quickcrop.ie the arrive with sprouts on the tubers, I kept them on the bench for about 2 weeks then planted them out. I dug lots of granular seaweed and BFB, and pelleted chicken manure into the beds.
   
   
   
   
   

Yesterday we went and met some honeybees . We are seriously considering getting some. It was a fascinating 4 hours! Chatting with a bee keeper and seeing what hives, books & suits she recommended and trying on the different veils and jackets. 
We would have to get the native Scottish black bee. That’s one of the reasons we want bees to help preserve the species and oddly they cope much better with our climate. And we’d have to get the bees from the island bee keeping association or from colonsay  https://www.snhbs.scot/colonsay/ . Until very recently mull was one of the few place that was varroa mite free. Unfortunately someone didn’t consult with local bee association and brought infected bees on to the island     . It is isolated to one area but it’s very likely it will eventually spread to the rest of the island eventually. A lot is being done to try to keep it in the one area. But it’s doubtful. 
It really was a fascinating day we learned so much. Bees really are incredible organised and intelligent creatures. And slightly bad tempered ( the one that got caught in Bobs hair was   ) . Actually they were a lot calmer and placid than I was expecting. But she did say that the temperament can be different with each hive and with what’s happening within the hive and environmentally at different times. 
Bob wants bees next spring. I want the house liveable first, then bees. But I think honeybees will definitely be in our future.

I've found a way to ease my conscience about old seed hoarding and give all these seeds a chance!
I'm emptying old seed packets into a little jar and putting it in my pocket. Whenever I see a little patch of clear ground, or I've just weeded.somewhere, I'll give the jar a shake; say a small incantation, and scatter the seeds on the bare earth. This is, of course, in my garden, not some random bit of a neighbour's garden or in the local park.
Today was random radish day. 

Hope you have a wonderful birthday filled with gardening, cake and half a shandy or 2 

   

I'm not sure that "generic" is the right word to use here but..........who cares? 
My question to the panel is............ why do we need lots of different varieties of the same type of vegetable (like carrots or leeks) when, basically, they all taste the same.
If you bought one packet/type of carrots, or leeks, or spring onions, or parsnips  would that be sufficient for your needs. 
In the good old days, before the introduction of F1 seeds, gardeners would have had far less choice of varieties and probably grew the same ones every year, especially if they could save the seeds from one year to the next. 
Are we being led astray by the seed suppliers, tempted to stray from the beaten track, with adverts promising bigger, better, tastier, earlier produce when in fact they are little better than the old varieties?
Over to the panel of experts..............

One day I shall do “proper” labelling immediately instead of relying on my fading memory!
I think these little mauve things might be some sort of penstemon. 
(Similar, but not in the same league as the big blowsy “Arabesque” that are currently flowering their heads off!)

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I had the satisfaction of seeing shooting star last night, purely by accident.

Kato started howling about 1.30 this morning so I assumed he wantd to go out for a wee. I put the lead on him and took him in the garden. It was a lovely clear evening when I saw the shooting stars.
I had read about the Perseid shower but was enthralled when I spotted it. I didn't realise it happened at this time of year every year.

........pick it up, and it will always bring you luck!

I am surprised at the amount of coinage I pick up whilst walking Kato around the streets? People don't seem to value money any more? It seems that if they drop any change, they give it a cursory glance and if it's a small denomination they don't even bend down to pick it up?
I have a simm card slot in my wallet which has a found penny in it. Each time I find a penny I swap it into the wallet and put the other penny into my coin saving sweetie jar.
I don't go scouring the paths and roads for change like a 'Shabby Wedding Hoyoot' but if I do see any coinage I always pick it up. I honestly think people, and especially kids, have no regard for small coinage and will just look at it and walk on.

I often hear a clarttering in the washing machine where I have forgotten to take whatever coinage I have found, out of my trouser pockets.

Our friends were delayed arriving today. So while we waited we went mushroom foraging. We found a couple of ceps. Still quite early in the season for them. And a lovely lot of chanterelles. 
My first time trying ceps tonight for tea. 
Chanterelle risotto for tomorrow.

I’ve got this labelled as echinacea sun magic.
But it looks very much like a rudbeckia. 
Anyone got a definitive answer please??

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