Much of this last fortnight has been spent in the garden, wood and orchard. A lot of Jacqui’s hard work is now coming to fruition, literally in many cases. After the polytunnel blew away the first time we were sure we had missed the planting season and had very low expectations for this year. Despite this Jacqui soldiered on, clearing the tubs in the garden and transplanting the seedlings that did, much to our surprise, start to grow. The garden began to look more cared for, especially as we snatched the odd dry days to keep the grass and weeds under control.

Our first successes were the salad leaves – lettuce, spinach and rocket. For a week we popped out into the garden and harvested “thinnings”. And absolutely delicious they were too. Then we noticed something strange. The rocket started to look a bit ragged. Then very ragged. And then the next morning the whole tub was reduced to stalks. There was no sign of slugs or snails and I’d checked for caterpillars each day but the rocket was gone. Some rapid research suggests we are the victims of flea beetle, a very small (and obviously very greedy) pest. We are now watching the spinach and lettuce carefully in case they start on those too.

The tomatoes are doing very well, safe in the polytunnel. There are two species growing away happily. Half are Italian cherry tomatoes and the others are French Marmandes, also know as beef tomatoes. The first flowers came out last week and suddenly the first two Marmandes appeared. We are very impressed with the polytunnel, which has withstood some rather nasty weather. Heavy rain and extremely high winds have swept across Ireland though the temperature has been reasonably mild. One good thing about the squalls is the reduction in the biting flies and midges. August is often a time for avoiding the garden – actually for avoiding the outside completely.

It is not only the garden that is under siege. The predations continue on our orchard with flocks of crows circling, landing on the fruit and spoiling it. I rescued the last of the James Grieve apples last week and they are ripening indoors. The crows then started on the Katys but my cousin, Jennie Long, suggested using small organza bags to cover the fruit. Jacqui promptly ordered some and they seem to be successful. Thank you Jennie. There was one surprise however. The bags are apparently supposed to be for party favours – we have 50 with pretty silver snowflakes on the outside. Still, as long as they work we don’t care.

Now they can’t get at the apples they seem to have turned their attention to the “free” fruit. Last week I spotted a damson tree inside our margins. I’ve never seen it before but this year it is laden with plums. A lot of them are out of reach as we are both wary of ladders still. Jacqui had the great idea of using the mower as a platform, giving us an extra foot or so. I used the garden claw and clippers and we gathered two tubs in less than half an hour. Jacqui made an experimental German crumble cake and I am casting my mind back 50 years to try making some jam next week. We will gather some more if the jam works but the crows can have those plums we can’t reach.

The wildlife continues to share our home and generally it is welcome. We have had another small band of field mice in the boiler cupboard but they are now feeding the bigger animals in the wood. At night I go out with the dogs and check the paving stones for newts, as they seem to love sitting there in the dark. There are a lot of butterflies around and the dragonflies are often seen flying around the garden. Yesterday I spotted one of each resting on the back gate. The butterfly is easy to spot but look closely, two uprights to the right and there’s a dragonfly. The second family of house martens has flown the nest but we still have at least a dozen different birds in the trees around us.

Yesterday we harvested and ate our first non-salad vegetables. Despite taking a real battering the peas have rallied and there were enough to add to dinner. They were wonderful, nothing like even the best, “deluxe” supermarket offerings. I don’t know if we will get many more this year but roll on 2026 when we can sow and plant at the proper time. The strange and unpredictable weather may have upset some of our plans but we are very happy with what has been achieved. One big plus is the evening sky with some of the most striking and beautiful sunsets this year.

Now, we would like some help here please. Jacqui’s sister has a cockerel she has dubbed the “patchwork chicken”. We’ve not been able to find anything like it anywhere on the net. Does anyone know what type of chicken this might be? All suggestions gratefully received and no, it’s not been dyed. It really is this amazing range of colours.

As we slide into autumn keep well, warm and safe and thank you for reading.

Jennie.