Garden Growth, and a nest of eggs

The garden is just starting to burst into life. We have had several days of very heavy rain, and we've not been able to go out and play, or to weed. The weeds have just loved it!!

I bought a Jasmine plant an put it under the kitchen window..mmmm

And here is a rather smashed by the rain bed of lettuce and beans, with calendula and lavender

The beans are cannellini, just right for soups, and the flowers smell a bit like roses..

I grew all my garden from seed this year. Previously I've had terrible results from seed, but this year I've bought direct from the seed people, and what a difference!

Gypsophilia..

Here are some Amish Pie pumpkins, and beetroots, and Thomas in the background!

He's doing well at mowing the lawn..

and his fleece is growing beautifully...

Carrots and onions

Sweetcorn

Monster garlic patch

silverbeet/chard

Little melons

and rhubarb

And this is quite a disaster story. Our beautiful black hen, called Lightning McQueen by our son, became broody, so I bought some fertile eggs from the internet, and thought I'd collect them so as not to damage them.

Five were very dirty shelled, so we didn't put them under her, but she has been sitting so dutifully now for 23 days.

They are supposed to hatch at 21 days

I went to check her and make sure she got off the nest to feed, and had a good look at the eggs. Not a sign. One egg smelled like a bad egg, so I took it out to prevent an explosion.

I thought I'd crack it open to see if anything had grown at all..

But no, look at that mess, and the smell!!

I'll leave them until tomorrow, then crack the rest. What a disappointment, and she has been so very good! I really did think we would get at least one.