First of the completed projects are my two patchwork cushions. Despite being pictured in this chair, the cushions are now gracing two of the kitchen chairs. Bright and breezy, which the kitchen needs since the end of the Paralympics meant that the red, white and blue bunting has come down. Can’t help smiling when I spot these cushions on their intended chairs. Especially when the sun is on them. It really does give the kitchen a fun bright feeling. The girls have been spurred on to finish their patchwork.
Second finished project is out in the garden. I realise that I show the planting of the runner bean house, but seldom, if ever show it with beans and flowers. No children available to demonstrate today, but lots of beans and flowers. The kitchen garden has been neglected this year for one reason or another. Once planted, it has had to battle the elements and weeds on its own. Surprisingly it has done quite well, but it has also brought some surprises. Including a mysterious plant the children found.
Once I rediscovered the kitchen garden (picture jungle exploring gear and swinging machete), I found among the weeds this plant. At first we thought it was a sweetcorn plant that had ended up at the wrong end of the garden. It has a very similar stalk and leaves. Since then, the seed head has grown into something more compact than sweetcorn. Also no sweetcorn cobs on the stalk.
Compared to sweetcorn, the stalk is slightly furrier but similar height. One of the runner beans is taking advantage of it and using it as a support.
It’s a mystery. I suspect that it’s from the bird seed as there are no fields around us with a similar crop. It’s unlikely to be ornamental. The nearby gardens are turned over to either low maintenance or garden produce. After a bit of googling, the nearest I could get to it was rice. I know its been wet this year, but not paddy field conditions.
So, please does anyone know? What is this garden interloper?
I have no idea why I know what this is but the name sprang into the muddle that is my mind now and I googled it is it Sorghum ?
see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorghum
Hmm. Not one I know. Learn something new every day. I’ve probably seen the seed and not known what it was. Thanks for pulling the name out!
heads up …reading down that entry ..if it is Sorgum it can be poisonous ?
I’ll keep the curious hens away from it, just in case!
No idea about you plant, but I love your cushions, and your bean plants are an inspiration! Neglected or not, they are fabulous. We got less than a handful of beans this year, and the plants are already dying off (but the fresh beans were totally worth it).
Only just starting to get the beans this week, but oh… they are good. Starting to feel the autumnal coolness, so hoping that the temperature won’t kill the plants off in their prime.
Sorry, I don’t know about the plant I’m afraid. It looks like a kind of grass but there are many many grasses, including sorghum, so that doesn’t really help. It does look a little like what I imagine sorghum does but I haven’t ever seen it in the flesh.
Your cushions are fabulously bright and cheery! Juliex
Thanks Julie. It will be interesting to see how it developes. I have a feeling the wild birds may benefit from it, in the end.