Food photos

Have just read a BBC article about photographing your food in restaurants. I hadn't realised that I have a trendy holiday habit. So far I've not been banned ,but then again I haven't been to New York.
The tips could equally apply to the "smug trug" photos showing off the bounty from our gardens and allotments,although many of the blogs that I read seem to have mastered the art already.

Grilled limpets,Seixal,Madeira November 2011 . Low angle shot with the immediate surroundings as a setting.

 

Gran Canaria photos

Snow in England in January, whatever next!
Have just returned from a warm week on Gran Canaria. Here's a link to the photo album

I picked a very clear day to go up to Roque Nublo ,which had been shrouded in cloud for most of my previous trip in 2011.

This was about the only place I saw other walkers ,otherwise I had the paths virtually to myself.

The mountain almond blossom is spectacular in January

Gran Canaria has Spain's largest botanical garden, set on the side of a barranco. I took lots of photos which I've edited down in the album.

As usual the small holdings were an inspiration for growing veg on my allotment.I'd already decided to give leeks a proper go this year.

Early January on the allotment

Almost a year on from our first work party in 2012 and as the sun was trying to shine I decided to make a photo record.

Views across the site from the four corners.

After (too) much deliberation and playing round with various options on my plot spreadsheet I've decided to go for a middle path down the top two thirds,using the theory that everywhere will then be relatively easy to access without too much treading on the tilled soil.At present it's still only a mud path as I'm waiting for a drier spell to be able to put down a layer of  heavy duty ground cover fabric folded double and secured with plastic pegs. It's a system that seems to have worked well on Kath's plot during 2012.

If the long hedge and treeline next to the lane is cut and layered this spring I'll probably plant permanent fruit and veg crops in the bottom section of the plot as it should be less shady than it is now (although in general I'd consider that mine is a sunny plot anyway)

Not much produce left at the moment ,although the purple sprouting broccoli spears are coming along and I still have a mini mountain of cavolo nero which seems to be doing it's own sprouting.

 A bit surprised that the globe artichokes still have their foliage,perhaps some proper winter weather will see off the top growth until spring?

You'll see that I've spread lots of horse manure on sections of the plot,much to the delight of the worms!