From nettle stings. I spent the afternoon weeding the first two rows of artichokes and three rows of tayberries and raspberries and gooseberries. That meant pulling out bind weed and nettles and other unwanted plants. But it’s the nettles that caused the most problems.

I just looked up bindweed and see that it is related to Morning Glory. I can’t deny that bindweed has a pretty, pale pink flower but it must learn to confine itself and not grow all over the garden and the plants! ,Amongst the cut down artichokes I found one that had begun to flower with magnificent, purple spikes.

We had been expecting a visit, this afternoon, from a Yemeni photographer who lives in New York but he hadn’t realised that the cost of an Uber from North London to The Gables would, as he put it, “blow a hole in his budget.” I wasn’t best pleased with his last minute call but used the time to pick plums, make jam and tackle the long overdue weeding. So, alls well that ends well.