This one is in the same series as the last 2 – again painted on a bit of old kitchen door found near my flat. Something I’ve realised is that it’s fucking difficult to take a good picture of a painting – ah well.

What with being a little skint of late and the weather taking a turn for the worse I’ve been staying in quite a bit which is doing wonders for my painting productivity. This is the first in a new series – it’s on a bit of old kitchen cabinet door that I found lying about. Have to say I’m quite pleased with it’s simplicity after all the hectic stuff I’ve been doing of late.

Did a bit of painting this weekend – a diptych and rough sketch of a new style I’m trying out.

I’m really into this new angle.

AKA Sageretia Theezans – my new love

Note my use of beer loving Martha Stewart accent beer bottles as vases – perfect. WIN!

I’m in a bit of a rush but from the looks of things I may be pipped to the post by The London Vegetable Garden

You may remember a few weeks ago after a wander round Columbia Road Flower maket Callum from The London Vegetable Garden and I challenged each other to a Lily-Off – this might in fact be East London’s first ever Lily-Off, until someone proves me otherwise I’m going to call it like that! Anyway nothing much seemed to be happening to the lily but I just checked and it seems ever so slightly different – it looks to me like the race might be on! Your move Callum ……

So a few of my flowers died – nothing spectacular, just some cheap bedding plants I got from Columbia Rd and it just happened that I chanced across a nursery when I was back home in Norfolk for a weekend. I was browsing round and I stumbled across the most amazing space plant ever – it’s like a silver ball of tumbleweed – I had to get it as it’s just too awesome – turns out it’s a Calocephalus Brownii or Silver Bush or Cushion Bush. It’s native to Australia I think but loves deserts and sea spray – I have nothing like this so we’ll see if he lasts the winter – I hope he does as he’s awesome.

Then I’ve got a couple of carnivorous plants – a tubey thing which is inside and then a little snapper for outside – I don’t know his proper name but I hope he’s happy …..

So there’s been some activity on the pepper front too – my main ‘Bell Boy’ is about the size of a normal pepper now – the annoying thing is that he was about to start flowering some more when the shit weather came over so it seems like he’s been mostly focused on this one pepper so I don’t know if he’ll have any more ……..

Then there’s my ‘Chilli Pepper’ and it’s kind of the same story – one really good pepper and not much else although he’s got some good flowers so again we’ll see

Then there are the two younger rapscallion pepper plants; my ‘Jalepeno’ and my ‘Sweet Banana’ – they’re younger and fiestier and I reckon they’re about to start causing all sorts of trouble ……..

About time I updated on what’s been growing in the garden of late – even thought the weather has been cold and shitty things are happening. I even ate a couple of tomatoes off my hanging plant yesterday and they were awesome! Felt quite proud! Anyway so the hanging toms are going great guns…..

Then there’s the big toms – they’re pretty big right now and Grumblegirlfriend thinks I should eat at least one of them – I’m a bit hesitant though….

Then there’s my weird yellow long toms – again Grumblegirlfriend says I should eat them but I’m too scared or precious to try them ……

Oh and then there are my plants that I grew from seed (the others I bought as baby plants) – addmitedly a little late but they’re all starting to flower which is awesome as I’m growing them all in tin cans! We shall see ……

As usual I’ve been focussing on pretty much everything but blogging recently with some new jobs coming in and a couple of weekends away, but after spending an interesting day with Callum from The London Vegetable Garden I thought I’d better get my ass in gear.

After a couple some awesome awesome coffee from Taste of Bitter Love (where we bumped into James from Dose Espresso) we sauntered around Columbia Rd discussing various options for mulch (vacum cleaner fluff & seaweed). Anyway whilst discussing growing things from bulbs we chanced upon a stall which was offering ‘Cobra Lily‘ blubs. They’re called that because they have a hood which catches flies and eats them – awesome. Anyway being the competitive person I am I challenged Callum to a race – to see who’s lily flowers first!

Right so I chose this awesome pot that my mum gave me this weekend – not sure what it’s for.

I’ve been realising the importance of drainage recently what with growing so much stuff in tin cans so I put a bunch of shells at the bottom of my pot. £2 for a massive bag – bargain.

Then I planted it in the soil which was a bit tricky as I’ve never planted a bulb before – I’ve placed him in my newly arranged mediterranean / seaside section of the balcony – fancy!

So the race is on – make sure you check out Callum’s blog and if you’re a gardener too make sure you check out the new London Gardener’s Network, which is a great resource to share tips, show of your gardening skills and maybe make some gardening friends.