I now have less than three weeks before our annual open day and the weeding of the deep interior has commenced…The process is fraught. It has been blisteringly hot recently so I’ve been resplendent in the gardening shorts, an outfit which pairs badly with the nettles and thistles which escaped the first round of springContinue reading “Death by a thousand cuts”
Tag Archives: gardening
Mayhem
The last few years we have had gloriously sunny Mays and this year seemed set for the same. The sun was riding high, the garden was a riot of tulips and cherry blossom. Our clay soil ground was baked so hard any weeds had to be chiselled out and it seemed a whole lot easierContinue reading “Mayhem”
Zing!
The garden is suddenly a blaze of colour. Most of the daffodils have gone now (save for the pipit in the rockery and the hot garden and baby duck in the nuttery, both lovely smaller varieties) and tulips have taken centre stage. The ones planted out in the garden have been marvellous this year. TheyContinue reading “Zing!”
Hokey Cokey weather again
It took a while to get going this morning. Lachlan stayed over yesterday, but was working the back shift today so I watched the morning sun enviously whilst packing up the lunch of champions to see him through what seems likely to be a long night. By the time I got out the sun hadContinue reading “Hokey Cokey weather again”
New Boot Reboot
In the way of these things, the best gardening days for weeks arrived and both my wellies and gardening boots gave up the ghost. Nothing for it, I ordered some new ones and persevered with the weird sensation that there was a tortoise inside my boot whilst they scoured the country for a teeny tinyContinue reading “New Boot Reboot”
Light and Sound
I’ve hardly been in the last few days. Despite the odd shepherd’s warning morning, the weather has been dry and fine and whatever indoor chores were originally on the list were firmly relegated to the back burner to make more space for rambling with Lyra in the morning and manic gardening in the afternoon. IContinue reading “Light and Sound”
First flush
At last we’ve had some proper gardening weather. The soil has dried a little and the rain has largely held off. It’s still pretty mucky, so to keep the washing down I am resplendent in my boiler suit, but the game is definitely now afoot. I have been out weeding and “reshuffling” like a positiveContinue reading “First flush”
Public Service Announcement
I’ve been out to check and it’s still horrible. Shelter in place until further notice. We had a tantalisingly sunny day earlier in the week. It had started overcast but by the time Lyra and I hit the trail patches of blue were visible so a skip around the riverside was in order. As weContinue reading “Public Service Announcement”
Crewel weather
We are suspended between disappearances. It is not black over Bill’s mother, she has simply disappeared, together with the Lammermuir and the Cheviot, all quietly erased by smirr. The wet hangs, bone-chilling, in the air. Drainage ditches are lipping with weak tea and the water table has escaped, with glassy sheets covering fanned out buttercupsContinue reading “Crewel weather”
Rain did not stop play
It has been exceeding vile abroad. Lyra and I have bravely ventured forth every day, but it has not been delightful. The back lane is awash with puddles and the ditches are running lipping full with cold milky tea. By the end of our daily perambulation my finger ends are numb and Lyra is aContinue reading “Rain did not stop play”