gardening with kids – foxgloves, fizzy pop and photos

We’ve only been getting to the allotment every other weekend but with the warmer weather we’re beginning to see more rapid change from visit to visit. Since sowing our first seeds towards the end of April we now have carrots, beetroot, runner beans, shallots, tomatoes and lettuce coming up. Kohl Rabi and watercress are still keeping us guessing and we’ve got some plan B plants we can allocate to their seed beds if they don’t ever appear. There’s not much space for anything else but I just couldn’t say no when Dave offered some sweetcorn and potatoes so we planted one of each anyway!

We had lots to do in a short space of time on Saturday but both boys were keen to help out. Euan was pleased that Dave had left out some rubber gloves for us – he’s not yet got used to the idea of mud under his nails! He was pleased to see how easily the weeds came out when pulled up from the roots. Luca was a bit too enthusiastic and I hadn’t thought to point out the fact that we’d finished when I turned to see him pulling up some of our precious few carrot seedlings. He’s still trying to master walking along the wooden plank that separates our growing area from Dave’s blackberry bush so a few things were trampled in his eagerness to help.
Euan was concerned that a fox glove plant was growing on the edge of our plot and that Luca’s leg had brushed up against it. We had spoken to him last summer when Luca was less mobile about the risks for children and animals if they ingest any part of the foxglove plant. Euan is extremely conscientious with any information like that but I could see he was becoming agitated by the thought of Luca touching it. He was finding it harder and harder to be rational about the risk being in eating them (which Euan knew he would never do but wasn’t so sure about a curious toddler). I asked Dave if he minded us removing it for Euan’s peace of mind and he didn’t and as I managed to dig it out with it’s roots intact he re-homed it down on his plot in the area where he likes to sit on his bench and take a break. They are beautiful plants after all and the bees especially love them.

We took a break after all that work and the boys were excited about having Dave’s special drink, watered down Cherryade. In all honesty I think it’s E’s favourite part of allotment visits because we don’t have fizzy drinks at home and he’s always keen to know if Dave will be there at the same time as us! I took some pictures of the boys having their drinks and invited Dave into the frame too. It was nice to also have proof that I’m at the allotment with them when Dave offered to take one of me with the boys.

Euan excitedly asked if he could take a picture too and as he’d had some practice using my camera while we were on holiday I was happy to let him. I think he did a really good job considering he’s much smaller than we are.

”Can I take some more pictures of the allotment” he asked shyly and when I said yes he took himself off photographing flowers, plants and other interesting things. He has a lovely eye for spotting things and is really responsible about putting the strap around his neck and holding the camera carefully.
I may have to dedicate an entire post to his photo gallery if he keeps this up!As always we came away from the plot with some fresh produce from Dave. Euan thought the cabbage made a rather good hat!
We’ve also been taking part in two nature challenges this month – #30dayswild with The Wildlife Trust and the #GreatBritishBeeCount with Friends of the Earth, photographing and logging sightings of bees. They certainly love purple and pink flowers especially the foxgloves (although they were too fast to snap them as they zipped in and out of the lovely bells).