Green-Stuff

We spent the weekend in London. Whilst there, I had the chance to experiment with the camera. The conditions were perfect for some macro photography in the garden – bright light, enabling a fast exposure and lots of flowers and bees.

This shot is about the best of the hundred or so snaps I took. I think it is bombus pratorum – Early Bumblebee. Thanks to the bumblebee identification chart at helpsavebees www.helpsavebees.co.uk/bumblebee-ID-chart.html which says: A small bee. Face longer than it is wide. Females sometime lack the yellow band on their abdomen. Found in gardens, famland, woodland, glades and edges. Nests usually below the ground. Colonies are usually short-lived, with males appearing as early as April. Rarley seen in late summer.

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I’ve kept the brassicas netted and released tham only this week. Now at the mercy of the cabbage white and the weather, I need to set up a cage and fine mesh t stop the pesy butterflies laying their yellow eggs on the leaves.

We love sprouts and we love carrot and swede mash. Alas, the last two years the caterpillars have enjoyed more of them than we’re been able to. I’m determined to grow decent sprouts, but this might be the last year of trying if we’re unsuccessful again.

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There are a few simple tips to getting a clear shot of the moon, something which can be achieved with the majority of cameras available today. The most obvious equipment might seem to be a very long lens and a high spec camera. I’m lucky to have a good mid-range camera with an attachable lens, but its certainly not high spec and certainly not the longest lens available. Its also true that a high resolution camera will give a reasonably clear picture of the moon. With a little cropping and careful editing in post-production, some surprisingly good results can be achieved. The sensor on my Canon S3IS is far from high-spec, I usually find the images benefit from some de-noising to make the results more eye-pleasing. But all these things are secondary in importance in my opinion when capturing a clear image of an object so distant.
Many modern digital cameras benefit from a feature known as image stabilsation. Its purpose it to remove small movements in the photographer’s hands whilst exposing the image, which would otherwise produce a blurred shot. Two factors rule out the use of this feature for moon shooting. Firstly, the subject is relatively dark (obvious really) and therefore a long exposure is needed. Secondly the object is distant and therefore needs all the optical zoom that can be mustered, amplifying the effect of camera shake. Both of these factors can be overcome through the use of a high quality tripod and a remote shutter release for your camera. I have neither of these items and make do with a medium quality tripod bought at a fund-raising sale and instead of using remote shutter release, I use the delayed exposure or self timer feature. Any wobble induced in my tripod by setting up the shot and pressing the shutter release has subsided 10 seconds later when the shot is taken. The results give a high clarity image, which when cropped and edited, produces a quite reasonable shot of the moon. As for editing after the shot is taken, I use a mac and the iPhoto editing features that come as standard with the machine. I know similar tools are available for the PC. The point is, you don’t need to have the best camera and equipment to get good results, just make the best use of what you have and you’ll pleasingly surprised.

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I commented on the broad beans and peas in an earlier post, what seems like an age ago in February. It was still cold, but the sun was starting to shine again in increasing regularity. For me it was a step change, paving the way to the arrival of spring. Since then, much time has passed of course, but in spite of a few warm days, the weather has been less than spring-like until recently.

Dark winter evenings give many an opportunity to think about the spring and summer and to plan what needs to be done. All this is very necessary as by the arrival of April, time becomes preciously short with two family birthdays and a camping expedition to some part of the UK that’s wild and often wet. Planning therefore is necessary, in order to make best use of the limited time – or at least that’s how I’d like it.

In complete defiance of this, nature takes is own course and at its own pace. The broad beans and peas should already have made their way to the dining table (or in the case of the peas, straight from plants into the tummies of Daddy’s helpers). But the long cold winter and cool spring has delayed their growth. In place of the winter broad beans and peas, should by now, be rows of runner beans and summer peas (we never seem to grow these in sufficient quantity to satisfy the helpers’ appetites).

Pods of peas and broad beans are now forming well and on their way to being edible, so it is time to sow runner seeds into trays in the shed. In the meantime, other gardens are growing runner plants and a kind family member has donated a few left-over plants. I’m sure I’ll fit them in somewhere and the children will enjoy eating them right through the summer – yes straight from the plant. In the meantime, Daddy’s helpers are becoming impatient for those succulent, sweet and tasty beads of green, so  I have been very clear that they’re not to be touched until I say so.

‘Are we clear about that children’? ‘Yes Daddy!’ ‘Daddy, I do want to have a pea’ ‘patience children and they will grow’ ‘But I do want one now!’ I think the idea of patience differs somewhat between father and 3 year-old daughter. We’ll have to see if it lasts and hope they’re satisfied with helping to water, a diversionary activity they’re passionately keen on.

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Every year on May day bank holiday weekend, a group of like-minded friends have been getting away to the countryside for walking, camping and beering. Not really in the style of Del Boy and his mates’ trip to Margate, but it was mentioned as a joke years ago and the name has stuck. This year, the location is Monmouthshire, near Abergavenny.

Today is the first of four, so just a short walk along the river to warm up. The sun did shine and the rain did fall, but the temperature was cool enough to enjoy the steep climbs and resulting vistas. Buzzards mocked by rooks flew high overhead and gambolling lambs dotted the green fields with white. We did find a pub en-route (a key requisite of a good walk) but it was the middle of the afternoon and hence closed.

Some of the bluebells are just starting to show their faces.

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Deep in the woods is a land of Boggles, Twiggles and Thorny Crocklebogs. See the picture gallery below and video here:

Muddle Maze from Lincoln Green on Vimeo.

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Today was a warm and sunny March Sunday. The girls and I were equally keen to get outside and get muddy. We did pretty well and managed to set a variety of seed for the vegetable garden. As always, the girls showed great enthusiasm to get started and exceeded my ability to get ready for them.

Wanting to encourage their eagerness we set about filling trays in the shed with compost. We first looked at the Brussels Sprout plants growing nicely and thinned them out to just 2 per module. All our work was accompanied by a non-stop running commentary from our younger daughter – as is her want with most things she does. It’s going to be an expensive time when she’s a teenager if she gets anywhere near a phone!

Outside, we’ve completed digging over the larger of the two vegetable beds. In order to encourage the local feline population to use someone else’s garden as a latrine, we’ve covered the whole area with netting supported by lengths of 20mm conduit we have in the shed. Again, my younger daughter was keen to help and appeared after frantic rummaging in the shed with plastic spade in hand. ‘Cos I will help you Daddy! I put the spade in there and (strains to push it into the soil) Put the spade in (strains again). ‘Daddy I can’t do it!’ ‘You do it Daddy!’ ‘I will help with more seeds cos I like seeds in the mud Daddy!’ And so it goes on. But we love it because she’ll be three only for a short while..

I think both the girls enjoyed their time in the garden. Some of the seed sowing techniques were really creative. I’m sure it won’t be long before the daughters Green are fully green-fingered, hopefully before the teenager rot sets in….

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On the second Saturday in July, the Tendring Hundred Farmers club organise a one-day show aimed at raising awareness of agriculture and horticulture on our back door. The show is reportedly one of the biggest in the country, and attracts thousands of attendees from far and wide to a myriad events and stalls from flower arranging to clay pigeon shooting.

According to the Tendring Hundred Show web site, the attractions include Amanda Saville and her wonderful Chariots of Fire Display. She will be the main attraction in the President’s Ring this year. Amanda thrilled and amazed the crowds three years ago with her wonderful and entertaining driving displays, using ponies, sheep and even a cow! Colchester & District Pipes & Drums will provide musical entertainment, while local Sheep Farmer, Bob Wilden will demonstrate his sheep dog skills.

Other notable features include an art show and craft and shoppers marquee with crafts and unique gifts ranging from handmade soaps to wood turned toys, with over 30 exhibitors. The food hall, a favourite of mine is filled with fresh local produce as well as more exotic foods. If its mind expansion you’re after, check out all the exhibits from over 40 local primary and secondary schools at the education tent , and see what the students have been up to this year!

The countryside and conservation area will bring you in close contact with nature, and provide information about how humans influence, use, manage and protect our natural environment. And if ll this is too much for you, then head for the flower tent where the theme this year is ‘The Tendring Countryside’ providing exhibitors with the opportunity to draw on all our local attractions, coastline and areas of beauty as their inspiration. As always, this will provide a wonderful colourful, fragrant and tranquil place on the showground.

Many more attractions and events include the Cavy (Guinea Pig) Show, Equestrian Classes, Goat Show, Pigeon Show, Poultry Show, Rabbit Show, Rat Show, Sheep and Cattle Classes, Vintage Car Show and Vintage Engine, Historical Vehicles & Tractor Display oh and much more! So there should be plenty for everyone.

Parking is FREE for all abilities and the show field gates open at 8am. Hope to see some of you there.

Why A Hundred?

A hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany (Southern Schleswig), Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions.

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Today I started the task of digging the main vegetable plot and incorporating the out pourings of the compost bins. A little disappointed this year that the green bin had obviously dried out and a lot of grass has failed to rot down.

Many worms had moved in again.

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Today, we visited RHS Hyde Hall in Essex – described by themselves as an oasis of peace and tranquility in the Essex countryside. The day was dry, and the wind was very cold, but it didn’t put us off enjoying the activities both indoors and out.

Advice was freely given in the Vegetable Garden on anything related to helping us to grow our own fruit and veg. There were crafts for the kids to do and guess the vegetables on the plates.

The team room cum cafe served a good range of food, but was very busy. In spite of this, the queues weren’t too long, but we had to sit outside to eat. We did manage to sneak back later in the day to grab a slice of cake and a cup of tea though.

The activities continue tomorrow, with the promise of another fine day, why not pop along to see whats what. Entrance for the four of us was only £2 (children 3 & 5yrs).

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