Jack in the hedge is garlic mustard!

Went on a foraging walk this afternoon. Only the leader and 3 people - but it was raining!

Under a hedge in the park was some "Jack-in-the-hedge", which I discovered is also called "Garlic mustard". (see picture below.)

I've been interested in garlic mustard for years, but having now tasted it, won't be bothering with it again.

We also found plenty of "Three-cornered leek". This I had recently read about in the newly published Edible Perennial Gardening by Anni Kelsey. It's named for the shape of its stem. Very interested to try it - and loved the taste. Definitely going to grow some. A lot of what we found was growing under trees, flowering before the trees got properly in leaf - so suitable to go under the overhang of my neighbour's ash tree.

Horse shit success

As I wanted plenty of time in the garden today, I only went for a short ride despite the sunshine. I cycled past the riding stable and thought, "Typical, no horse droppings when I have come prepared to gather them up". I had cycled round and was cutting back across the south of Leyton Marshes, at the back of the ice skating rink, towards the riding stable when I nearly cycled past some horse droppings as I wasn't expecting any there (I've never seen any horse droppings round the marsh before, only on the paths around the stable and paddocks.)

It's the folding bike as the ordinary bike is at the bike shop having a new back wheel fitted.

figgy success this year?

At last, fingers crossed and touching wood, it looks as if I will get some figs this year:

At the end of each year one should have ripe figs (to eat) largish, unripe figs, to discard, and tiny, tiny figs to keep that will be next year's ripe fruit. I have once had figs to discard but usually only tiny, tiny figs which drop off over winter.

At the beginning of winter there was no sign of tiny, tiny figs, but this spring there were, and they are growing! Thanks, perhaps, to the mild winter.

And I think I might get plums for the first time this year too!

Second hand funiture success without a car

Most of us don't need a car in London - most of the time. But if you want to buy second hand furniture you usually need a car. I don't have one (haven't driven one since I passed my test 30 years ago, so legally able to drive....!).

Today I went to the affordable vintage fair at Bethnal Green. Found a bangle I lived. And then saw this telephone table.

It looks like Ercol, but it is "Chippy Heath" which the stall holder told me is very similar, made in the same area but has a different finish. I thought it was light enough to carry so bought it. The stall holder's daughter carried it for me to Bethnal Green tube station. A young man carried it up the stairs at Leyton station, then I got a taxi the mile home.

I have a small chest of drawers on casters (new from Loaf) coming at the end of the month. I am hoping that over Easter I can get rid of the large single drawer chest used as a coffee table via Freegle. Then I am hoping to make a more flexible space in the sitting room with furniture that can be moved around.