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News and information from our allotment in Northamptonshire.

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Can You Help us?
 
Hi there lottiebloggers, here we ask for your help with questions and situations where we feel a bit stumped about regarding our allotment and the things growing and living on it. Please see below for examples of some topics already up for your consideration.
 
 

 

 
Any responses we get to the topics posted on this page will be gratefully received and we hope may produce info we can share on pages like our "Hints and Tips" section. So, take a look and if you have something youd like to share, drop us an email by clicking here for the Contact Us page.
 
 
2008 Conundrums

 

 

 

 UFO

Unidetified Fungi Object

 

 

This year we have seen various types of fungi on our plot due to the recent damp and humid weather, especially seeing as we have several rotting tree stumps dotted around our plot, however this is something new and we wondered if any well informed individuals out there might be able to tell us what they are. It seems pretty clear from the fact that the rabbit's havent had a go at it, that they must be ineddible (not that we would ever dream to be confident enough in wild foods to ever try and eat such specimines or encourage others to do so) but it would be interesting to know the nature of these life forms hanging around the area.

 

 

Bug Alert

Yet another unusual insect rears its head on the plot

 

 

This little fella was nestled in the leaves of our Globe Artichoke, he didnt appear to be doing any harm, however due to his reasonably large size and quite striking appearance we were intrigued to try and find out his identity and lifestyle, any information would be much aprpeciated.

 

Click here for Contact Us Page

 

 



Already solved by Lottieblogs readers:

UGO
Unidentified Growing Object
 
 
Most of the Flora and Fauna on our plot, weve been able to identify and sometimes use to our advantage, however this plant growing by the side of our shed and next to some of our Rhubarb got us bewildered. When it was small we though it might be a houseleek but now nearing 3 foot tall we thought it unlikely and asked for help.
 
SOLVED - THANKS
 
This plant is Rosebay Willowherb (or Fireweed) a viraciously spreading plant. Many thanks to all you readers for your assistance with this one.
   
  Creepy Crawlies
Wierd creatures
 
 
These rather horrid little creatures were found all over the leaves of our Swede seedlings one day and not knowing if they were friend or foe and concerned by thier vibrant colour display, we decided to remove and dispatch them. Afterwards were very curious as to what they were. 
 
SOLVED- THANKS
 
Several readers identified these as the catepillars of the Cinnabar Moth. Varying explanations of thier value or risk to a plot were also been given, however there seems to be little reason for dispatching them in the fashion we did. Next year we will move them to an uncultivated area and look out for them in grown up form.