Glad for gladioli II

The gladioli on our allotment
are growing very tall
and their variegated colour
looks lovely when we call

They make a pleasant change
from the vegetables we grow
and have varying success with
through the year as well you know

And today with August sunshine
so lovely did they look
which I'm pleased to say I captured
in the photograph I took

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

The Plan (part VI)

No.6 in the continuing Jemverse ‘Allotment’ series 

For the first time I sat back
and knew that 'we'd done good'
at our allotment established
as we'd hoped that it would

And now we can harvest
the produce and fayre
of the things we have laboured
for and groom right there

And keep up the momentum
to see it prosper and grow
and keep on producing
with grandeur to show

Our Ham Field allotment
for pleasure and more
from the toils of our labours
to a place we adore

Yes 'we've done good' and
we're really quite pleased
as the plan's come together 
from the idea conceived

And now it's with a smile
we can look at our land
and know that it's ours
all that loveliness, grand

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

‘The Plan (part VI)’ is part of a continuing Jemverse series charting the rejuvenation of our Ham Field, Shoreham allotment in 2021 and beyond. For previous outings see ‘Back to the Allotment‘, ‘The Plan (Part II)‘, ‘The Plan (part III)‘, ‘Beginning IX (aka ‘The Plan (part IV))‘, and ‘The Plan (part V)‘ 

Radishes

Had a bumper crop of radishes
from our allotment, pleased to say
filled a big sack with them
when I picked them yesterday
They have a lovely pepper taste
and they'll make a tasty lunch
and I'm pretty sure they'll soon be gone
not certain, just a hunch

©Jemverse

Photo – half the crop – Jempics

The plan (part V)

It won't win any fence awards
but I don't really care
as I've used up all the withy
and it looks quirky there
And it's all part of the masterplan
we've been putting into play
as we visit our allotment
down the road 'most every day

So now it's looking pretty good
and things are growing well
so we'll just keep on watering
and watch the veggies swell
And it's looking fairly promising
that a harvest we will see
to bring along a bumper crop
for my wife Sal and me

©Jemverse

Photo Jempics

Part 1 ‘Back to the allotment‘ – 24 March 2021

Part 2 ‘The Plan (Part II)‘ – 18 April 2021

Part 3 ‘The Plan (Part III)‘ – 24 April 2021

Part 4 ‘Beginning IX (aka The Plan (part IV)‘ – 1 May 2021

Dandelion Bouquet

We have an evening pastime
now the 'lotty' is in full swing
a little wander down the road
to do some watering
It's cathartic and a pleasure
and with my air-pods on
I get to hear an album
on my i-phone with a song

It's peaceful there and lovely
and a pleasant thing to do
as well as one with purpose
for our labours to eschew
But most of all this time of year
with Springtime every day
is the yellow at the gatepost
with a dandelion bouquet

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Beginning IX

aka The Plan (part IV)

9 of 12 in the Jemverse series ’12 months IV’

A new beginning at our 'lotty'
and we're both as pleased as punch
as the planned 'no dig' solution
is paying off from just a hunch
For now we've built with withy
two climbing frames by hand
and planted all the seedlings
we have grown upon our land
And we've strimmed the grass around
so it's looking pretty neat
showing off the lavenders
which are blooming in the heat
Now lots and lots of water
we will add by hose each day
to bring the plan close to fruition
and the vegetables our way

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Part 1 ‘Back to the allotment‘ – 24 March 2021

Part 2 ‘The Plan (Part II)‘ – 18 April 2021

Part 3 ‘The Plan (Part III)‘ – 24 April 2021

The Plan (part III)

I’ve carried the frames

one by one down the the road

as they were quite awkward

so, to lessen the load

I decided four hikes

was better than two

to get the frames there

well you would, wouldn’t you?

…

So now the plan gets

at last to part three

a no-dig solution

for Sally and me

Next will be cardboard

laid over the grass

followed by compost

‘cos digging’s a farce

…

And then all the plants

from small seeds we’ve sewn

and coaxed to fruition

in the sunlight at home

we can plant in our frames

and watch them all grow

as the Spring turns to Summer

and the frosty times go

…

By and by then part four

of this saga I’ll write

when the next chapter’s down

with fruition in sight

Then I hope that the picture

shows results in the making

with reward to us both

for the pains we are taking

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

Part 1 ‘Back to the allotment‘ – 24 March 2021

Part 2 ‘The Plan (Part II)‘ – 18 April 2021

The Plan (Part II)

We built some raised borders

for the allotment to grow

laid them out in the garden

where they’re ready to go

…

Just one minor problem

they’ll not fit in the car

but the allotment is close

and not very far

…

And the frames they are light

so I’ll carry them there

one on each shoulder

not too much to bare

…

And in situ the plan

is for cardboard and compost

for a ‘no dig’ solution

which cuts down the work cost

…

Especially when all

the produce has grown

and the fruit of our labours

by the plan we’ll have shown

©Jemverse

Photo Jempics

Part 1 of this little series was published as ‘Back to the allotment‘ on 24th March 2021

Back to the allotment

Got back to the allotment
armed with strimmers and a plan
spare batteries in the backpack
and refreshments in a can
The grass had taken over but
we kind of guessed it would
not that this would stop us
as with strimmers there we could
remove those months of overgrowth
and flatten it once more
revealing something of the plan
for it we have in store
Next up will be some digging
turning soil to give some room
to plant the things we’ve grown from seed
so we’ll be back here soon

©Jemverse

Photo – Jempics

The Lotty

The Lotty’s looking wild this year
we haven’t been there much
Lockdown saw to most of that
but we’ve still kept in touch

Emily’s been there more than us
and kept it in some shape
but living several miles away
it’s quite a trip to make

So long grass meadow is the norm
with wood chip in between
coupled with a lovely pond
the best we’ve ever seen

The sage and all the lavender
with fruit bushes have born
a harvest to be grateful for
whilst the weather has been warm

But as with all experiments
and a woeful lack of rain
some things have not fared quite so well
which really is a shame

Still, the Lotty’s looking lovely
and I’m pleased it’s there to share
as there’s always other stuff to grow
whenever we are there

So we might find a root crop
or some vegetables that need
less water there to prosper
when we’re not around to feed

Because we will keep on coming
and we’ll always lend a hand
as the Lotty is quite special
and our own small plot of land

©Jemverse

Photo – the new Lotty pond that Emily and Will built – Jempics