Vernon's sweet peas

Vernon has been growing sweet peas since Adam was a lad and also specialises in dahlias too. It's a shame this shot is not in smellavision as well because the scent of a sweet pea is, as you know, quite divine. At this time of the year Vernon is very generous with his cuttings, each time we go to the allotment my wife usually comes away with a mixed bunch. The colours are superb but this is one of the prettiest, white tinged with purple.

He grows sweet peas and dahlias for competitions and usually wins. He's also a competition judge and many local places echo to the scent of his flowers including the Doctors' Surgery and care homes.

Vernon has two whole plots at the Allotments, one is devoted almost entirely to growing sweet peas and dahlias the other, which he shares now, is for his vegetables. He is a champion grower and his wife Joan is a champion weeder!

We spent a couple of hours weeding too - a never ending task this afternoon. In the morning I was up at the primary school preparing for tomorrow's training session.