Monday 29 July 2019

Happy Clappy Bridge - Tarr Steps

 17 spans, 180ft long, Tarr Steps in Exmoor is the longest "clapper" bridge in the UK


The horizontal stones weigh up to 2 tons


It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument


The stones have been discretely numbered so that flood damage can be accurately repaired


Smaller stones are used to protect the bridge supports.



Well worth a visit.  (We timed it just right as parking charges in the designated car park up the hill stop at 6pm),  Very cooling on the hottest day of the year.


Wednesday 10 July 2019

Indigenous Orchiding!?

Orchids in the wild 
 I had this post all lined up before visiting the 'Botanics' (officially the  Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh RBGE)  yesterday.

On recent visits to the Pentland Hills we have been delighted by the emergence through the grass of what I take to be the Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella).  On emergence you can only get an inkling into the glory to come. 





Today I was delighted to spot a similar flower in captivity at the Botanics.  You can imagine my surprise when I checked out the label only to find this specimen was the Madieran Orchid!





It seems this one has got spotty leaves and an RHS Garden Merit award.  For my part it is the one up in the hills that I will treasure.


Monday 8 July 2019

Overwintered Alliums from Around the World

Today it was time to harvest the overwintered alliums.  After a dry spell we are forecast some rain every day for the rest of the week.  Perhaps I should not be as surprised that the homegrown variety performed so well.  This is Doocot with parentage grown in Elgin, Scotland (not far from Inverness).  Sold as "really garlicky garlic" I couldn't resist locally sourced stock.
Scottish grown 'Doocot' 

Originating from the other side of the world Shenshu Yellow is a proven overwinter performer. 
Japanese onion variety Shenshu Yellow
 Our elephant garlic is another proven performer.  We keep our own cloves for planting each year.  This must be about 8 generations down from the first (single) clove we bought.
Elephant Garlic = African or Indian?
 It must be noted that we have more uncloven bulbs than usual this year, probably down to the mild winter.

Last but not least is the Early Purple Wight.  Some good bulbs, some showing signs of rot.

Early Purple from the Isle of  Wight 

I have to point out that I consider it an achievement to get an allium harvest at all in Edinburgh.  Every row has some gaps and despite adding a handful of sand per clove when planting some succumb to rot.  But this year it has been worth it!




Friday 5 July 2019

Mellow Yellow


Just now there has been a burst of yellow in the hedgerow.  There is a lot of similarity in structure as well as time of flowering:
Meadow Vetchling

Meadow Vetchling  - leaves in pairs


Black Medic  (Yes black! - that's the colour of the seeds)

Clump of Black Medic (round leaves is threes, clover like flower structure)

Birdsfoot Trefoil  (Leaves in threes developing fruit like hens claws)




Birds Foot Trefoil also known as Bacon and Eggs - presumably because it develops a reddish tinge?



Dear little Buttercup - or a creeping menace? 

Giveaway buttercup leaves at base of stem

Wednesday 3 July 2019

Fruit and Legumes


Having been away for the weekend it was a case of reacquainting myself with the state of play at the plot.  Soft fruit is now cropping heavily.


  Legumes are on their way but needed support and weeding.  Potatoes second early potatoes are flowering and it is time to start on the earlies.  (The single Jerusalem artichoke, in the corner, is the odd one out here. I have decided to treat this as a perennial rather than moving it around with the rotation).  The runner beans are shooting up the poles, higher and higher.