Jacob's Ladder

Genus: Polemonium, Species: caeruleum (blue)

I suppose you could call this a weed. It is a wild flower which spreads like wild fire through the garden, often springing up in paths, veg plots, and borders. I really like it, and I also have a white variety, with the same orange centres. Think I originally bought it in a yoghurt pot from a village sale! I could make my fortune selling them now - I have hundreds of the blighters!

Last week someone asked me if I had any hens eggs, which might be fertilised and viable, to put under her broody hen. Today someone else came and collected my broody hen to put their eggs under. This might sound a strange arrangement, but although I have fertilised eggs and a broody hen, I don't want any more chickens at the moment, so was quite happy to let other folk have the benefit of them. Dusty, the bantam hen, is going to be sitting on some Shetland blue eggs - can't wait to see what she hatches out of them.

Have spent another day in the garden, but as my thumb is still strapped up I am limited to what I can do. The splint is falling apart, as I have to keep washing it as it gets filthy in the garden, but is impossible to get a glove over!

Took the wheel barrow along to Northern's to beg a tyre off her - they have more tyres than the average garage! I've put it round my outdoor courgette plant to give it a bit of protection from the elements - we've got wind forecast, and I don't want to lose it now it's grown into a healthy looking specimen!