Friday, May 05, 2006

Purple sprouting brocolli, cut grass, violets

Protected from the pigeons by nylon fleece and netting, the purple sprouting brocolli, has survived the winter and now sends forth its close knit purple flowers. Steamed and served with anchovey butter (you mash some butter with chopped anchovies and a little lemon juice), hollandaise sauce, or just a little melted butter, there is little better at this time of year, even though the first asparagus is expected.

They are cutting the grass in the Grove. The machine emits petrol fumes, but you can smell the cut grass through them.

Violets pushing up between crazy paving stones seem unusually fat.

3 comments:

tristan said...

my common sense filter was switched off & my mind's eye saw cartoon violets doing press-ups, and demented paving stones with grotesque faces

Unknown said...

I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over canopied with luscious
woodbine, with sweet musk roses,
And with eglantine...

These violets are almost too fat to nod. They are almost pansies or at least cultivated violas. Your reaction is what I would have hoped. Cheers.

Anonymous said...

Brocolli is amazing, there's something I would not have said 10 years ago. I have planted my first crop ever this year. I can't wait until spring, but do I really have to cover them in netting for winter. Doh! but I will look up what to do in my book,I tried the BBC gardening site but it seems to be aimed more ate plants.

That's cool.


Tim - Crystal palace