'West London Allotments', Jane Brocket, 19 September 2009
'Greenhouse and Garden', Stanley Spencer, 1937
Like drying onions in the greenhouse.
Like wanting to have my wish granted so that I could find out what is behind a high wall. (Tom told me that the allotments were holding an open day at the weekend, so I hot-footed it down there and had a magical time wandering round some of the 385 plots behind the wall that has kept me out for so long.)
Like not being able to choose just one photo to show what the place is like. Like showing lots of pictures (because this is a photo essay, I've just decided).
Like not being able to resist pretentious captions (this is a photo essay, remember).
'Ripe pumpkins beyond the corrugated iron fence'
'Vine and marigold bower'
'Butts and barrow'
'The Good Gardener's Wicket Gate'
'Bollard and bridge and compost heap growth'
'Watering can installation with nasturtiums'
'Pears that round the shed-eaves run'
Like never failing to love a good allotment (or 385).
Like being happy my wish has been granted.
Even I, on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay in the U.S. now feel satisfied regarding West London Allotments. Thanks to your lovely tour. Those pears!
Posted by: kathe kramer | September 22, 2009 at 20:08
A very superior class of allotments, indeed!
Pomona x
Posted by: Pomona | September 22, 2009 at 20:18
Really enjoyed your tour of the allotments. Vine and marigold bower being my favourite. It has reminded me to plant out those marigolds now. Every morning I click on your blog to feast on your evocative photos - thanks!
Posted by: sweetmarynz | September 22, 2009 at 20:24
Your captions made me laugh out loud! Brilliant. I've always imagined that one has to be a member of a secret allotment society to be allowed in to snoop
Posted by: Cat | September 22, 2009 at 22:15
...and I JUST watched an Inspector Lewis re-run where he turns down his allotment (you can guess why -- work!)... Pix are great, as usual, and the captions hilarious (pretentious?!! no, I don't think so!)
Posted by: dee | September 22, 2009 at 22:36
I meant to leave a comment about this last week... I was reading about artist Chris Cyprus who does allotment art (http://www.allotmentart.com/) and I thought it might be of interest to you and Tom. The photos are really beautiful... as usual! Aoife x
Posted by: Aoife | September 22, 2009 at 23:19
Very nice photo essay! And the variety in the allotments is stupendous! I'm sure it was hard not to photograph each and every one.
Posted by: Laura | September 22, 2009 at 23:53
Oh yes, these are very beautiful... the last pear one is my favorite.
Posted by: Vicki K | September 23, 2009 at 00:47
Your photos (and obviously the allotments) are absolutely beautiful - I want to frame each one of them (just as lovely as Tom's), I can't choose a favourite.
Posted by: catherine | September 23, 2009 at 00:52
The allotments are marvelous - I just loved them. Now I want to come for the next OpenHouse day.
Posted by: Rachel in TX | September 23, 2009 at 01:18
My grandad used to have an allotment in Norwich and there were always onions hanging in his shed, just like the first couple of pics. It's 40 years since I was last in that shed and I can still smell its mix of coaldust and onions.
The very word 'allotments' conjures up my old grandad. Wonderful.
BTW: How do you tie up those onions? Are they tied on to a string? I do have some dim memory of Grandad twisting the dried leaves together somehow.
Posted by: Lesley | September 23, 2009 at 01:35
What beautiful pictures, so glad you were able to finally go in and have a look. I bet it was a superb day.
Posted by: Jennifer | September 23, 2009 at 03:55
I live next door to one of the oldest (possibly the oldest allotment sites in England) in Wiltshire. It's a treat to walk around them and admire everyone else's productivity. Mine is a little disorganised although it is the only one that has bunting!
Posted by: Janice | September 23, 2009 at 07:55
If there was a 'Good Gardener's Wicket Gate' does this mean that somewhere among the 385 there was a Bad Gardener's Wicked Gate'?
Posted by: trashalou | September 23, 2009 at 10:44
I have allotment enny, and you have just made it sooooo much worse...
Gorgeous pictures as usual.x
Posted by: BrocanteHome | September 23, 2009 at 11:00
Oh goodness, that would be allotment ENVY... I'm not with it today!
Posted by: BrocanteHome | September 23, 2009 at 11:01
so, so beautiful ... love your point of view, always makes me smile, always makes me hope, always makes me try again, thanks
Posted by: pumpkinsoul | September 23, 2009 at 11:09
I`ve never commented before but I`m getting the idea that you really like allotments :) Allotments are blissful places to spend your time. Mine is at the top of a small hill, which rolls down to a tree lined stream at the bottom. Time is irrelevant there, and you would never guess, if you look down the way, that we are in an urban area, next to a derelict building where addicts hang out. Love your pictures, and have been enjoying your books and recipes.
Posted by: ione | September 23, 2009 at 14:16
I also have an allotment, it does take up alot of our time and its sooo rewarding, ive taken a few photos there this summer and they are lovely to look back on as we head into autumn....yours are lovely Jane!
Posted by: Jacky | September 23, 2009 at 16:01
"Allotments" always reminds me of EastEnders, where I first heard the term. So much Fowler Family drama there! If I ever do an Allotments by Jane Brocket quilt, as I hope to do, I will not be able to resist embroidering "RIP Arthur" and "RIP Mark" on it somewhere. (We are 6 years behind on our episodes here, but I'm guessing "RIP Pauline" is also going to be a propos.)
Love the organized chaos of gardeners.
Posted by: Kay | September 23, 2009 at 18:18
Love the allotments, so lovely in all its chaos and end of season over growingness.
Posted by: Kathleen | September 23, 2009 at 18:29
I love this photo essay. One of the things I miss most about no longer being in the midwestern states of the United States is the nonexistence of fall here in Oakland, California. Your photos make me so homesick for this season back amongst the gardens of our town in central Illinois. I will be back to look at these pictures again this fall when I feel out of touch with the season.
Posted by: Amy | September 23, 2009 at 19:52
I love these pictures. The watering can picture is my favorite.
I am glad you got to visit. I know that was a real treat for you.
Posted by: Carla (from Alabama) | September 23, 2009 at 19:54
I have just read your blog for the first time. You have a beautiful way with words and pictures.
Posted by: Wendy | September 23, 2009 at 20:51
I liked the good gardner's wicket gate and the bridge - brought back many memories of our visit there. Thanks for sharing
Posted by: Patricia Nash | September 23, 2009 at 21:32
OK, after seeing your photos, I want an allotment! Yea, even though I live in Colorado! And your captions make me laugh! Thanks.
Posted by: amy | September 24, 2009 at 00:21
thank you for tour
i can almost see the little
folk danceing round and about
wonderful gardens i live
in florida and ever so hot
but i was born in the north
they used to be called
victory gardens at one time
Posted by: elizabet a airhart | September 24, 2009 at 02:24
Wow - what a special beautiful place - I bet you felt like Mary from the Secret Garden a little!!! xxx
Posted by: catofcuriosity | September 24, 2009 at 11:59
Fabulous pictures - they've really made me day and made me feel 'in touch' with autumn! x
Posted by: PinkCat | September 24, 2009 at 13:53
Love Stanley Spencer paintings - he spent some time in the town my father was born during the war and painted "the Glen" a favourite one of mine.
Mx
Posted by: Mhairi | September 24, 2009 at 14:01
I wonder how you get a pear tree to grow along a fence/wall like that. It looks so cool...
Posted by: Junie | September 25, 2009 at 04:05
wow!
Posted by: pupottina | October 04, 2009 at 17:06
these are the pictures of my dreams.
Posted by: Lori | October 08, 2009 at 07:07
a new blog reader, first time blog commenter, first time reader of your blog w/ a belated remark concerning your allotment quilt's "prize"- are you freaking kidding me?! It's my favorite quilt in the book, I've checked it out of the library 3 times just to look at this quilt, & to take to show a friend, & have begun my own version. sorry I don't have a real prize to send you. but I think it's swell!
Posted by: cindy m | October 18, 2009 at 04:48