My oasis in a huge field of weeds.

I had been feeling rather despondent about the way the bottom end of my plot was looking lately. Purely because of the rapid growth of the weeds in my flower beds and ‘resting’ beds. (Resting because I had not been well enough this year to accomplish all that I had hoped for- due to the silly shingles.

Because of the heavy rain falls we have been having too, the paths and lawn and meadow had not been cut for about four weeks. An all time first for me. Whilst the paths made it look quite tidy, I hated having the weeds in the beds as it looked scruffy – even though I am surround by plots full of thistles, docks, Fat Hen, and all sorts so of nasty things scattering seeds to the winds!

I had a mind to leave it as it was, after all, come winter they all die down anyway, but pride got the better of me. Especially as my vegetable end is tidy.

This is the 'before' photo.

Two hours later when I had weeded it - this is the after! There is even a sunflower in the foreground.

Cordalines, crocosmias, hostas, and zebra grass and a big rhubarb at the end. I think that whilst it is bare and not planted up in the middle, I shall buy a big sack of mixed daffodil bulbs and plant them, before I put any more plants in. I will really need to pack them in to keep the weeds out. The sowing of annuals was not a success after all. The drought saw to that! I shall do some propogating by division from my garden and add more to this bed.

I went on to weed these two beds too next - and then mowed the paths again and the top end of the plot where we park the car and where the squash bed is next to the compost bin and pig hut. That had to be done three times too.


I was on my hands and knees most of the time weeding - but I still need to dig the beds over, the girls were jumping all over me to get at the insects and worms, and then would rush back to where Pat was working digging out the resting bed, to see what was on offer there.

Yesterday you read how we made a start on that end – and the difference inspired us to finish if off today.

Luckily it was a dry day, with rain forecast, so we got stuck in to do as much as we could whilst we could.

What a difference a few hours make – well 14 hours of hard work actually over two days.


Weeds removed from around the covered 'resting' bed, and beyond, unfortunately, an over zealous Pat weeded the new lawn path that I had sowne - admittedly it was dotted with weeds and bird scarers, but never mind - I can re-sow. Pat pulled out a weed, and was surprised that it had some potatoes on its roots - yes that area was the potato bed last year!

I mowed all the paths and meadow three times over, but it was hard going, the grass was wet, and I was left with a rather ‘hippy’ type haircut on some of the paths and meadow. I didn’t trim the edges – prioritising was the order of the day, and a job like that can wait!


We worked for four hours each today and three each yesterday, and this is what we achieved. Do bear in mind that this part of the allotment is about 150 feet long!


I feel that I have got it all under control again. It was so rewarding for both of us seeing the difference that removing those weeds made.

Despite the 'tweaking' left to do, it now looks like a nice garden.

At one point I was so worn out that I lay on my back on the damp newly mown grass and just looked up at the blue sky - to rest my aching back.

The chooks were 'bok bok bokking' around me, pecking seeds off my green wellies, the grass smelt wonderful and there was the scent from the mint next to where I was lying.

I lay there for a few minutes - and marvelled at my little oasis in the middle of a field full of weeds - and if I could bottle that feeling and sell it, I would have more money than anyone else in the whole world.

But who needs it - I have my very own feel good factor for £8 pounds a year - soon to be £10 pounds. And despite the rabbits, deer, mice, moles,parasites, bugs, neglected plots, failed crops, stony ground, and 'challenging' weather - I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.

Truly.