As it’s all systems go on the veg-growing front at the moment, it’s easy to get so caught up in the allotment, the garden gets forgotten. In the background she continues, without fuss, without complaint. While runner beans and sweetcorn rear their heads above their pots, the garden has her own delights to share.
The fig tree I bought a short while ago, shows promise… and fruit. 
Right now, our garden is awash with Spainish Bluebells. For many, there seems to be a love/hate relationship with these perennials. They certainly don’t compare to our very own native variety, yet I have a fondness for them. This year, we not only have the regular blue variety, but its white sister, also. 
Being a north-facing garden, woodland plants thrive and things can be a little slow to take off at times. Nevertheless, it means we get to enjoy the spring flowers, such as these Hellebores for an extra few weeks. 
A few years ago at the Chelsea Flower show, Agent Soph took a particular liking to an unnamed Aquilegia. As it was the last day of the show, they rang the bell at four o’clock and everything was up for grabs at a discounted price. It was a bloody battle to keep the other keen gardeners off the prize that Sophie had set her sights on; I still carry the scars to this day.
Sophie was unaware of how promiscuous Aquilegia can be, and every year, right on cue, this plant is the first to appear, in her ever-burgeoning numbers. .. 
In our compact front garden, I wanted the season to start with a bang, and to my delight, it’s full of shape and colour. Not only are there tulips and wallflowers, but the alliums, clematis and Fritillaria imperials are starting to rear their heads. 
My garden and allotment are very different ladies, however, both have very many merits, both are equally loved.
All I need now is an orchard…. 🙂
AGENTS OF FIELD 