Lots to do in the garden and artisan chocolate: April 30 2022

Busy day clearing the garden. Cut down the cardoons, already well advanced, but wasn't able to dig the roots out today. Had better luck with the buddleias on the bottom terrace, and cleared all the weeds and seedlings from the path.

My neighbour stopped to chat, that's the great thing about doing anything in the back garden, everyone stops to talk. She said she's been coming down and taking some handfuls of spinach, that's good, better to use it. It has sprung up with the warmer weather, plenty there for everyone.

There's more to do out there, but an hour's hacking and slashing and digging, followed by clearing everything up and loading the car with sacks full of garden waste for the re-cycling centre was enough for one afternoon.

In other news, I finally broke the healthy weight threshold on the BMI calculator. Hurrah! Losing quite well again now, a few more kilos to go.

I've been following the ZOE healthy gut microbiome advice:

• limit ultra processed food
• eat a variety of thirty different plant foods each week (including herbs and spices).
• include fermented foods (includes wine and chocolate).

I've seen some reviews of the ZOE programme (it's recently become available in the UK). Mainly good. I guess the more people they get taking part and providing feedback, the better the programme will get.

I also found out about artisan chocolatiers Cocoa Runners. Beautiful chocolate made from single estates. It sounds delicious, all of it, and the drinking chocolate. I don't know where to begin.

Someone asked why all the "bad" bugs had names like the cast of Mean Girls.

All the pictures from the Botanic Garden from 27th April 2022.

Not a single person was in there apart from me.

The Rhododendrons and Azaleas were gorgeous.
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Gardening