A quick trip to the plot this weekend as the weather yesterday was cold and inclement.
It was also quick because we attended a local ceremony to add two more names to the War Memorial, two local soldiers who had died in the Falklands and Afghanistan. Combined with the death of one of our neighbours over the road last week and the funeral of a friend on Friday, our thoughts have been on the more sombre side of the cycle of life.
It was with some relief we made our quick visit towards the end of the afternoon to find that the first of the carrot tops are just showing, more peas have popped up, our seedbed inhabitants are doing well especially the 
sunflowers, and the garlic is continuing to thrive.
Everything looked dry so we watered, only then for rain to start falling as soon as we had finished.
N put the finishing touches to the integrity of the Pagoda, by stapling up the last of the netting.
We also put soil improver on the seedbed, and sowed January King cabbage, purple sprouting broccoli and kale. Interestingly there weren't that many seeds in the kale packet so I just put them all in. Maybe because of their eventual size?
N planted some giant sunflower seeds along the bank and a load of wildflower seeds which will look real purty if they all come up.
At home, our broccoli and leek seedlings are doing well, and courgette, marigold and sweetcorn are just poking through.
The allotment as a whole shows lots of sign of work, digging and activity. Bean poles are up and potato beds made. It seemed to us as we left the allotment that it was just poised for action and conditions to really get going - warmth and sun. The forecast indicates rising temperatures towards the end of the week so here's hoping.
Pictures (from top): Checking potatoes for emerging shoots (none yet); more apple blossom; elephant garlic thriving; and peas in the Fruit Cage.
To our local gardening club to pick up bamboo poles for our beans and some topsoil. Weather note: sunny, cloudy, stormy, rainy, not warm - something for everyone
Then along to survey progress of the crops planted two weeks ago.
Much joy, loyal readers, as sun, rain and water have transformed our dried peas into seedlings. We also note first appearance of leek seedlings in the seed bed that look like tiny grass (sown a long time ago now), and on-going broccoli and cabbage seedling progress, snug in their home-made cloches etc.
The peas which began their life in guttering on our conservatory windowsill are also ready for planting in the fruit cage.
Also the apple trees are budding. 
It's time for our main-crop potatoes to join the early crop comrades. 20 planted today.
Finally, Raised Bed 3 is uncovered and the bamboo poles are put to use as the frame for our beans. At the base of each pole is some of our own home-made compost.
The Neighbours breach plot security to join us with Oscar Dog, who meets Leo Dog.
Much joy all round.
Looking forward to the harvest.
(Note by K: this will be an Allotment Society-free blog. Though there is much going on, we will remain true to the original mission of our blog. Which is to entertain you with the little goings-on in our own particular patch of earth.)
Pop up this morning because K wants me to see something.
But first encounter our ladies and discuss Thursday's meeting of interested Burydell Lane plotholders. All agree it was encouragingly well attended and exceptionally well chaired. Some venting and moaning allowed, but the group's collective attention drawn to the subject at hand: do we wish to form some sort of association, with an intitial aim of acquiring more clout in dealing with the local council? Yes, resoundingly, yes. Volunteers were acquired to be committee members and some officers appointed including K as Secretary (you can expect much more on this in due course).
They've been tasked with going away and sorting out a constitution, figuring out what legal status the group will have, and then enlisting as many plotholders as possible. Beyond lobbying the council (eg for security, repairs, waste handling), an association opens up possibilities of attracting development funding etc.
It turns out that K wanted me to see our new lawn (right). After a worrying lack of progress, new shoots are now poking their way through the stony soil, a hopeful sign of spring settling in.
Also below: the seedbed broccoli and sunflowers; and their further protection and enhancement with plastic bottle tops and bottoms; the buds appearing on one of our apple trees; the thriving Elephant Garlic; and the comfrey settling in.
Celebrate spring!
Back today for more concerted effort. Peas coming up strong, 
carrots and some onions showing. Thin rocket. Weeding around the plot. Housekeeping with black plastic, etc. Strawberries showing flowers. Summer raspberries showing signs of growth. Sweet peas in Pagoda some showing. Hoeing the seed bed. Difficulty of discerning cabbage seedlings but broccoli and sunflower doing well. Some leeks evident.
Transplanted onions sown from seed from home to bed 3 (corn bed). Sweetcorn Incredible F1 seeds sown in bed 3 (experiment as we have started others at home).
Pics (from top): Deputy Bean Planter (Acting); Assistant Chief Waterer; our first strawberry flower; the peas thriving; K's sister's family; the broccoli seedlings in situ; and the new netting for the peas. Sorry the lack of quality in picture arrangement - there is much to love about Blogger, but arranging your pages, text and photos isn't one of them.
