Sunflowers on the plot

It was the middle of August when I picked my first bunch of sunflowers from the allotment, and that seems a while back now.  I picked them then as they'd been in flower for a while and it made sense to enjoy them at home. And one month on, I'm still picking bunches of sunflowers to have at home.

MY FIRST BUNCH OF SUNFLOWERS PICKED MID-AUGUST

It's been fascinating to watch them develop from the tiny seedlings I planted out back at the end of May.  Not all of them survived, a row was swamped out by the rhubarb leaves and more were subsequently eaten by the slugs and snails community. But plenty did survive, and there's still more to flower, which is a vast improvement on the one or two that flowered last year.

Admittedly I did sow more seeds than last year, so that goes some way to account for that. But even so I've had a high success rate. On the plot I have them at all stages of their lifecycle, and I think that's right too.

I'll leave the seedheads for as long as I can so the wildlife can also make the most of them. And while I've grown most of them alongside canes, near my runner beans they're not tied into the canes. I think next year I'll grow them separate to the beans, but keep the canes.

Sunflowers are, I think the kind of flowers with personality. Don't believe me? Well, just look these two are deep in conversation!

It's been interesting to see them unfurl - and there's still a few like this, so if the weather is kind i could be picking sunflowers for a while yet.

It's not surprising though that more of them are looking aged and red (in this hot weather I know how they feel), but unlike me they're still managing to look good.

Sunflowers will definitely be on my growing list for next year.  What are you definitely growing next year?

A diversion through the Flower Garden

Last week I told you about my new commute through Greenwich Park and how I was clocking up those steps. Well that's still happening but a week and a half in, curiosity got the better of me and I was keen to see what was on the other side of the fence in the Flower Garden. So yesterday on the way home I took a little diversion to see what was behind the banana leaves where I usually turn right.

And as I expected there was a riot of colour with dahlias and coleus.

I had to smile at all the colours and even more so when a cheeky squirrel popped his head up out of the begonias, almost indignant at being disturbed. And of course once he spotted my iPhone he didn't pop up any more...

So I moved onto these gorgeous yellow flowers, I've a feeling they could be rudbeckias, but I might be wrong. 

And then there were the echinaceas. So many colours too, and it's easy to see why they're often called cone flowers isn't it?

So curiosity satiated, now I know what's on the other side of the fence.  Normal service can once more be resumed. Well until I get itchy feet to see another part of the park! 

A patchwork bread bag

Last week, just before all the digging and skip filling got underway I took advantage of having to wait in for collections, rather than deliveries with an impromptu sewing session. I've been meaning to make myself a patchwork bread bag for quite a while, remember them in this post of Portuguese food? 

Yes a while back. But what better timing seeing as though I'd made a loaf the day before.

I had some fabric in mind and a rough idea of what I wanted to do.  As I laid the fabric out I realised I needed to find a bit more, and managed to find some more that matched well. The white with blue stripes is an old work shirt of mine I cut up to use for scrap projects. And MOH said I'd never use it...

I knew that I wanted to line the bag, as my sourdoughs can be quite floury. And then inspiration struck. I'd use an old tea towel. Well not that old, but old enough that we only ever use it to wrap bread in rather than to dry up. You know the sort, too good to throw away, but too old to be out on display!

A MEAL WITHOUT WINE IS LIKE A DAY WITHOUT SUNSHINE

The only thing about sewing that I'm not so keen on is all the pressing of the seams. But I know it has to be done - and here's proof I did it.

The seam matching isn't perfect - quite a few match, some are close and some are way off - but that's part of its charm, right? Ahem.

So how did it turn out?

Not too bad. I added ribbon as a drawstring instead of cord and that works. I think though there's too much fabric to draw together easily, so for the next one I make I'd leave out the lining for that bit. Not quite sure how I'll do that yet, but I'm sure I'll work it out. I've got another tea towel lined up for the lining too, so I've got to give it a go and have a spare for when this one is in the wash, won't I?

Overall I'm pleased with it, and it's the prettiest bread storage I've had since that holiday in Portugal a couple of years ago. Pretty and functional, and you can't say fairer than that.