Gardens Again

Fruit is starting to appear in the hedges and leftover parts of the garden.  There are hazels in the hedges which seem to be producing handfuls of nuts, and we have found gooseberries, blackberries (some already ripe) and raspberry canes buried beneath bramble and snowberry; a major job a day or so ago to rescue four canes and transplant them to the shallot bed.  The shallots have now all been harvested and make a tidy bagful.  The broccoli is being ravaged by small green and black caterpillars, and the chard is being attacked by slugs.  So we have some small successes and some small failures, and we learn our lessons and think ahead.  I love harvesting and cooking food we have grown ourselves.  We have had a few courgettes (and three marrows by accident) and many shallots.  And the tomatoes are starting to develop and we might yet have peppers.