It works every time

I have a little Blackthorn bush
Nothing does it bear
Just a load of leaves
and thorns that get everywhere.

Which is a bit unhelpful, given that it was planted expressly to produce sloes for sloe gin. Five years it's been in and, to date, zero sloes. I've been muttering, in it's earshot, about digging it out.

And what do I find today?

Lo, a sloe; well, two actually in this shot and a further 6 elsewhere.

Now 8 sloes ain't gonna make much sloe gin, perhaps one shot, but you have to admit it's a start. They've gone to join the blackberry and apple vodka which is maturing for Xmas.

Now you see 'em

Now you don't

The autumn clear-up continues. I like this time of year, when you can start to see the bones of it all again. And it's an opportunity for bonfires of course!

The great Autumn clear up....

..... has started, although not before saving these fine chaps for a while longer

Q - what do you call an overgrown Courgette?

A - a Courge, of course

The hedge is cut; yeah, I know, like you're interested in a picture of a hedge. But it was hard work so you're gonna have one.


The nasturtiums are still flowering and the sun is still shining, occasionally. But mangetout, courgettes & sweet peas have hit the heap already and many more aren't far behind. Next big step? Manure!!!!

Nutkins scoffs the lot

He's a cheeky little fellow;

this was barely 6 feet away from the conservatory window.

But clearly the lure of some nice fresh sunflower seeds outweighed the risk of being shouted at by Humans.
It would have been a different story if I'd caught him eating strawberries again