Winter Drawers On...

An unseasonally sunny day saw me heading off into my small suburban garden to survey the scene after the recent miserable cold, wet weather. Predictably, soggy leaves littered the ground and apart from the few remaining geraniums there was precious little colour about. However, I did spy one small yellow polyanthus poking it’s head out from the shadows which I have to admit did bring a smile to my face.

I set about cutting back the last of the buddleia ready for next spring and swept the yard clear of slimy brown leaf matter. I also had to sweep up the mouldy and disgusting bread which I’d put out for the birds a week ago but clearly they’re not that hungry. They’ve also ignored all of the sunflower seeds in the feeder, so I won’t be bothering to put any more food out for them for a while. I suspect they’re all gorging on the abundance of wild berries I’ve seen hanging off nearby shrubs and bushes.

Despite my best efforts with weed-killer  ivy is making an unwelcome return behind one of the compost bins. Another dose of pesticide may well nip it in the bud but I shan’t hold my breath. This may well be the last of this years gardening chores before the proper winter weather keeps me indoors glued to the radiators until the spring…

NOVEMBER 18, 2012 

New Fence (Part 2)...

My Plan B fence chap turned up early and got to work immediately on removing the rotten fence panels. Although I’d pointed out during his initial visit that the compost bin that would need moving was actually FULL, I think he under-estimated quite how heavy it’d be. He struggled to shift it…..and then I heard coughing and wheezing. I rushed outside and found out he’d been over-come with dust from old/dry/dead ivy which had been lurking behind the compost bin.

I quickly sorted him out with a glass of water and a sit-down, and he eventually continued with the work.

Not wishing to ‘lose’ a second builder I ensured he had a constant supply of drinks throughout the day and that he had plenty of shade from my tatty old garden brolly, as the weather was close to the hottest March on record!

When he went off for his lunch break I picked up all of the mess so that he had a clean and dust-free yard to work in during the afternoon.

By 4pm the main posts were up and the concrete bases had to be left overnight to set…

MARCH 30, 2012