Category: summer

garden stuff · summer

sacrifice

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)25 Comments

Thanks to lots of rain over the last few days things are continuing to grow and ripen quickly here in our garden. Although I think it’s also partly due to an acquired bit of veg growing wisdom that I picked up from various books and blogs – the practice of companion planting sacrificial plants.

I’ve been growing nasturtiums and borage both of which are incredibly easy and cheap to grow from seed and are self replenishing as they set seed very well and so you have a free crop for next year. These are both now crawling with blackfly, aphids and caterpillars while my tomatoes, beans and raspberries are completely bug free and growing delicious crops.

There’s another benefit too as there’s a little ecosystem developing with ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies all swooping in to feed on the blackfly banquet. It feels good not to be spraying chemicals all over the garden and instead trusting in nature to keep my crops safe from mini-munchers and I love showing Amy the interaction between all the insects. We especially like ladybirds and can trace the entire lifecycle of the 7 spot under our very noses, from larvae…

…to pupae…

…to adult…

If you’re growing any fruit or veg yourself then I’d definitely recommend planting some sacrificial companion plants alongside them – there’s a good list here.

garden stuff · general stuff · summer

week 2

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)23 Comments

The summer hols are continuing happily here with everyone still in good humour! The highlights of our second week have again been water-based with a lovely day at the seaside (West Wittering in West Sussex) with Grandparents, Cousins and Auntie.

There has also been some splashing back at home in the paddling pool – not quite as exciting but still fun, especially with a garden hose!

We’ve also had some rain this week which has been great for the garden and everything is growing fabulously. I’m still enjoying getting to grips with the camera which has resulted in far too many photos being taken around here!

We’re quite enjoying the relaxed pace of summer, with a few days out and about thrown in to prevent boredom setting in. I’m at my happiest though when I get to grab a little time in the garden with my knitting or crochet and have a new favourite corner by the shed where I’ve been sitting on my newly-finished cushions and an old chair that was my Grandparent’s.

With any luck I’ll be spending a little of my weekend there – hope you get the chance to do something you like to do this weekend x

general stuff · summer

week 1

Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)28 Comments

Our summer hols have got off to a good start here, with the highlight of the first week being the discovery of a new playground. Although it’s a half hour drive each way it’s been worth the trip as it’s a playground with a difference – an aqua one. All the equipment sprays, mists or sheets water – the perfect sensory playground for Toby and it was free! (Fairlands Valley Splash Park in Stevenage, Herts)

I expect that it gets really busy in hot, sunny weather but we went while it was cloudy and found it quiet. It’s the perfect place for both the children to play together in safety and a good place to try out our new camera!