brunch with bill, take two

While I may have been too tired to run the allotments cafe this weekend (see seedling sale) I'm never too tired to visit a cafe! So bright and early Saturday morning, G and I caught the train into London and made our way to La Fromagerie

for Spring Brunch with the fabby Australian (now London-based) chef, Bill Granger.

He made his signature Scrambled Eggs on Sourdough Toast; Ricotta Hotcakes with Strawberries, Honey, and Vardon Yogurt; and Zucchini and Feta Fritters with Spring Salad. Here he is tipping the peas into the salad, with Patricia Michelson (who owns La Fromagerie) in the background:

All the dishes were from Sydney Food and Bill's Food, both of which have super breakfast chapters.

Bill's Scrambled Eggs has been our go-to recipe ever since we first tried it: the eggs are gently folded rather than scrambled, resulting in a wonderfully light and creamy texture. And now I think his Ricotta Hotcakes could become a real weekend favorite, too. Already looking forward to next Saturday morning!

seedling sale

More time on the plot has meant no time for blogging. With loads of help from Jo (and her heated propagator and greenhouse) we've been raising and planting out rows and rows of seedlings.

Sunday was also our annual Seedling Sale:

And despite an iffy weather forecast, it turned out to be our most successful sale ever. We sold a terrific number of tiny plants,

as well as seemingly endless mugs of coffee and tea and over 120 slices of cake. But I'm so glad I'm not on the cafe rota this weekend, because as brilliant as it was, I don't think I've quite recovered!

blossom bounty

The blossom in Teddington is fabby:

But I'm more excited about the blossom in our apple orchard...

and in our fruit cage, where after weeks of worryingly bare branches, the cherry trees have finally turned up trumps:

Because while not so showy as the blossom down the street, hopefully it'll be productive. Unlike myself at the moment. Better get back to the plot!

other people's gardens, part three

On Friday, G and I played hooky to spend more time in other people's gardens: this time our old favorite, Petersham Nurseries. There were trays and trays of bedding plants in the central greenhouse,

and the outside beds were bursting with blooms:

After a good wander round, and a long pause for coffee and slices of crumbly-syrupy lemon-almond-polenta cake,

we headed into the shop, where we discovered even more spectacular species:

The central urn had been planted up with strawberries,

foretelling good things to come:

And not a moment too soon, as I've had just about enough of rhubarb: bring on the berries!

other people's gardens, part two

Yesterday, Tracy and I met for our long-planned rendezvous at Kew.

We were meant to be crocheting in the cafe, but we couldn't resist the lure of the sunny blue skies,

blossom,

and magnolias, including this spectacular specimen:

With Heathrow closed on account of ash, the gardens were blissfully quiet. That must be a bird or bug in the corner...

because there wasn't a plane in the sky.

And as for crochet in the cafe: we've both taken out memberships, so we can try again next month. Perhaps it will be gray and rainy then!

other people's gardens

Saturday dawned so bright and sunny--the sky such a deep cobalt blue--it seemed an ideal morning for exploring. So we headed to Savill Garden, a woodland and ornamental garden created by Sir Eric Savill in the 1930s.

There were still a few daffodils blooming,

plenty of frothy blossom,

and some magnificent magnolias:

After a leisurely wander, we had lunch on the terrace of the Savill Building, just beyond the shade of its wonderfully wavy roof:

this image: Savill Garden website

The garden is part of the Royal Landscape, which is in turn part of the Crown Estate. As our allotments are also owned by the Crown, I was thinking they could perhaps lend us a gardener to help with a bit of plot beautification...hmmm!

spargelfest, part two

The bulbs may be more photogenic, but these were the real highlight of our weekend:

Our first asparagus spears of the season--hooray!