We are really getting some wild weather at the moment. On one hand I love strong winds – your hair whipping your face so that you can’t see, the pressure on your back pushing you along and billowing out your waterproof coat which you’ll probably need: where there’s wind there’s often rain; but at the same time the power of the wind makes me a bit nervous. I’m not keen on walking in the woods in a big wind in case I get hit in the head by some flying piece of debris and it doesn’t help that there are some big trees right outside our house. Looking out of our living room window at the wind in the branches of the cedar that towers over our little bungalow makes me feel quite vulnerable. And of course, the wind can cause a lot of damage, not least on an exposed allotment.
I didn’t get that far though. This morning I drew the curtains to find the trellis that provides a screen along the front of our garden had fallen head-first into our garden onto the newly sprouting daffodil bulbs that I’d planted a month ago (seems early doesn’t it?). The wind and the top heavy weight of jasmine, honeysuckle and various clematis had broken the supporting posts where they were fixed to the wall. There’s nowhere to hide now! One of the small plastic greenhouses in the back yard also went headfirst but luckily there was nothing in it.
I went over to the allotment expecting to find carnage and was pleasantly surprised to find very little evidence of any damage. One of our water butts had fallen over, despite being full of water, and our two plastic watering cans had wandered up to Hilary’s shed, but that was it. All the sheds were still standing. Even the enviromesh covering the brassicas was in place and the wigwams of french beans that I still haven’t taken down were standing straight and tall. I think it was good timing that last week Thomas cut down the asparagus ferns and the jerusalem artichokes - I think I might have found them horizontal if not. I dug up some parsnips, spinach and leeks, took a few photos and came straight home. The grey sky, the cold wind and the lack of company made the allotments feel quite desolate. I needed a hot cup of coffee and the heating on.
Tonight I roasted the parsnips for the boys’ dinner (although I’m not convinced they were the right accompaniment to fish fingers!) and yet again, they were tough. I am having real problems with these parsnips. I dig them out of the ground and they look fabulous, full of such hope (see photo), but when I roast them they refuse to behave. I want soft and fluffy on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside and all I get is tough and chewy, inside and out. It hurts me to say this: I’ve never had this problem with shop-bought parsnips. If you have any ideas, I would be eternally grateful because at the moment the parsnips are turning into a bit of a white elephant.
Our fallen down trellis
The sun came out for a moment today
The allotment looks a bit sad from this angle. I promise to do something about the brassicas under the enviromesh!
Those parsnips deserve an award for looks! Shame about the taste.