I've not much to say today as we have been cleaning the garden benches and mulching again, so just a photo of this gorgeous hellebore as they start to shine in the quiet corners. It is such a pity that we get no visitors to see them at this time of year, the winter garden has its beauty too. Speaking of mulching, Alyson wore a pedometer last Thursday and we were all shocked to discover that from 1.30pm until 4.00pm we walked seven and a half miles! Add to that the four miles we covered this morning and it's no wonder my feet have been aching!
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step"
Lao Tzu
Monday 23 February 2015
Monday 16 February 2015
Bare Bones
In January and February the garden is reduced to its bare bones, every tree and shrub is exposed so its shape may be pruned and corrected. Today we worked our way around the apple trees removing damaged or diseased growth and also pruning out water shoots, these are the whippy growths that emerge after the last pruning and must be sawn off to stop them re-emerging. Whilst we were removing last years growth from the clematis by the gate I noticed a beautiful nest, it was a work of art enclosed over with moss and must have been a perfect baby bird nursery. Giles tells me that it was home to a family of long tailed tits. This made me think of my foray into my own garden at the weekend when I turned the compost heap and mulched, half way through one side of the bin I inadvertently destroyed a mouse nest. With much regret as it was a beautifully cosy little hide away, I shall now have thoughts of a poor little creature cast out into the cold and having to make its way through the hazards of next doors garden! I hope it moves back in as I shall not be disturbing things again for quite some time.
"To fly high you must come out of the nest and dream high"
Farah Mustafa
"To fly high you must come out of the nest and dream high"
Farah Mustafa
Tuesday 10 February 2015
Snowdrops In The Sun
The weather continues to bless us and our cook outs have continued dry and comfortable. Where is the snow? Every single day that we have camped out in the woods has been dry, surely that is a first for January and February. Not much to report other than I saw the fox again yesterday, I'd just started sawing down an elder near a large hole when out it popped, as near to me as it could have been! Nice to glimpse it again but I wish I was quicker with my camera. Our clearing labours in the woods have now finished and we will be turning our attention to tree planting and returning to the garden, there is still much to do before the greenery starts growing again and catches us up, then we must put large projects aside and begin mowing, seeding and care-taking once more.
"An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day"
Joel Osteen
"An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day"
Joel Osteen
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I wish this photo was in better focus, but at least you can get an impression of how magnificent the snowdrops are now. |
Tuesday 3 February 2015
Fox In The Woods
"Nay, traveller! rest. This lonely yew tree stands far from all human dwelling"
William Wordsworth
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