It’s dark and rainy here today, which is not surprising really bearing in mind that the North is known for being on the colder wetter side. It is reputed that the Rossendale Valley has seven times more snow than the rest of England and I deeply suspect that something like that goes for the rain count as well. I know Doctor Foster stepped into a waist high puddle in Gloucester… but I have it on my own good authority (I lived in Gloucester for ten years) that he would be in at least as much trouble were he to come to Bury. However, there is something marvellous about so much rain though and that’s that things grow in the most lush and tropical way and when the sun comes out on a hot day you could be mistaken for thinking that you were in Hawaii! I accept that I have a very active imagination but that is really how it feels to me.

So I wanted to share with you some photos of things we are growing that have given me a lot of joy this Spring. I have a photo of our beautiful flowering cherry tree covered in blush pink blossom and a picture of our greenhouse showing our tomato plants and lettuce seedlings. I’m showing you an area where among others things we grow rhubarb, blackcurrants (17 kilos last year) gooseberries, strawberries, and raspberries, as well as ground prepared for onions, cabbages, French and broad beans, leeks and spinach. Phew… my husband who is the gardener grows so much!! And I am so thankful. We have a deal; he grows it, I cook it. It’s a very happy arrangement and one that means we both get to enjoy the fruits and vegetables of our labours.