Monday 24 February 2014

a busy weekend … one way or another …

Saturday morning dawned with sunshine and a bitterly cold wind.  Husband was repairing the shed roof, a section of which the storms had lifted and blown away.

At lunchtime a delivery of logs was expected – I loaded the wheel barrow and shifted from the road to the back garden log store  - husband stacked. Result – aching backs.

log store

Hopefully we have enough now to see us through the remains of the winter.

In the garden surprise at seeing Delphiniums shooting already

delphinium shooting already

and a small, but charming, drift of primroses starting to form.

a small drift of prims amongst the leaf debris

Self seeded crocus popping up in the herb bed amongst the Marjoram and Chives.

self-seeded crocus in amongst marjoram and chives

On the kitchen window sill a tray of salad leaves thrive.

window sill salad leaves

Sunday was an entirely different matter – overcast, very windy and bloody cold.  Husband decides to tackle the straggly ornamental cherry which has just started budding and needs at least 3 feet cutting from the top.  (I shall be following this tree this year linking with Lucy at Loose and Leafy).  This meant that I had to be involved, ladder holding, pointing him in the right direction and gazing skyward, which meant a lot of bending backwards – giving me backache and a headache to boot – even though I didn’t actually do any of the work.  We didn’t want to cut it back too far as it is such a glorious sight when it is full of blossom – just needed it to be kept in check.

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You probably can’t see much difference but we filled a builders bag full of prunings.  Not done in the best of conditions – but least it’s another job out of the way.

Now – what’s next on the never-ending ‘to do’ list!

34 comments:

  1. We have a crab apple in serious need of pruning but there are some seriously thick branches that need cuyying out!

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    1. My apple tree needs the crown dropping - I doubt that there is enough time to do it now it is starting to bud - will have to leave it till next year now.

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  2. Oh it's so nice to see signs of Spring everywhere! Thanks for the answer to my last comment, I'm looking forward to my first dahlias.

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    1. You're welcome - I am sure they won't disappoint.

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  3. At the moment spring feels like two steps forward and then one back.
    Trees are lovely to have, but it is important to do as your husband has done and keep them in check.

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    1. I agree - they put on so much growth every year - it is difficult to keep on top of all of them.

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  4. I am hoping that's enough wood to see you through the remaining winter. Nice to see the colors and she signs of spring about!

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    1. I don't think we have got through as much this winter - it has been so mild compared to the last two years.

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  5. Hmmm, your back and mine, too, though I didn't have the adverse conditions you did! Trimmed cherry tree looks great -- what a big job. My neck hurts just thinking about it.

    New shoots in spring are such a thrill no matter how many times they've appeared before.

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    1. Daily inspections show the garden coming more to life every day.

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  6. How nice to have your logs delivered like that. Ours come in half-tree form. and need a lot of further attention.

    Have we all got bad backs? Maybe we should start a protest group!

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    1. Some of them will need splitting but at least the log supplier cuts them to size. Mine aches as we speak.

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  7. A busy, but clearly a worthwhile weekend despite the aches. Lucky you having a log fire. Flighty xx

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    1. The wood stove is very efficient but I do miss an open fire.

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  8. That is a good job done. The sun came out this morning, all excited I was. It lasted just long enough for me to get my boots on.. and then the rain came down again.

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    1. Oh it is so frustration isn't it - we have had no rain for a few days now - so nice to be able to get out.

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  9. I glad you are joining in with Lucy's following a tree. I did it 2 years ago and really enjoy following a tree for a whole year. I need to get myself organised and join in too! Sarah x

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    1. Now all I have to do is remember to take pictures on a regular basis.

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  10. Goodness, how brave of hubs to get up a ladder in the wind. I love those primroses, you can't beat seeing them in drifts. Fancy having delphiniums growing already, I must check mine tomorrow, but I haven't noticed mush growth so far. Do you have a log burner? We had a guy out today to price putting one in to snuggle around during winter, I was surprised to hear it would cost about 2k....still it would be worth it if it was used all winter.xxx

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    1. Yes, we have a log burner - the initial outlay is quite expensive - ours was installed a couple of years ago and cost about 1k - but it has proved very efficient.

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  11. Your weather is a lot like mine. One dry day, one windy day, one rainy day and lots of work inside and outside the house. Your delphiniums woke up so fast. I still have no idea if mine survived the winter. I hope they did.

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    1. I was quite surprised to see the delphiniums too - although not all of them are shooting yet.

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  12. Saturday was a lovely day down here in London too, I hope we get more days like that, preferably without the sharp wind. Good to see the spring flowers are arriving and also good to see your salad leaves, which type is it? I sowed my first batch of salad leaves (cut-and-come-again) on Saturday, along with radish so I hope I have my first harvest first week of April – being a bit of an optimist!

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    1. They are just a general packet of mixed leaves - soon I will be in a seed-sowing frenzy.

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  13. My husband would be pruning the cherry and apples this time of year but we are preparing the house to sell and it might not get done. I will miss my gardens, but will be glad to visit your garden in cyber space when I need some horticultural uplifting!

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    1. Good luck with the move Jayne - don't forget to pop by and say hi when you have a minute.

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  14. I am hoping to see my delphiniums poking through doom, hoping that they survived the winter. You're hubby sure could use my daughter's tree service. We are still dealing with bad weather, cold and probably more snow. I am done with it.

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    1. Hope you weather improves soon Ann - winter does seem to go on forever - but surely spring can't be far away now for you.

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  15. Some lovely hints of spring and summer to come in your garden. I was disappointed in Sunday, too - especially after the Sunday before when it was a perfect day for gardening. Shame it wasn't as warm as yesterday - the first evening of the year we didn't light the fire.

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    1. I haven't been having the heating on during the day at all - which is quite unusual to say the least - great savings on the fuel bills eh!

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  16. Hi Elaine, wow, there is so much going on in your garden already! I love the photo of the juicy delphinium shoots poking through the soil and also the primroses and concusses are very nice. Sounds like you and your husband got quite some work done. Trimming that ornamental cherry tree looks dangerous to me. Glad that you got the job done, without any more serious hiccups other than back- and headache. Wishing you a nice rest of the week!
    Christina

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    1. We do try and do as much of the work involving the trees as we can - professional help costs a fortune. And yes, the garden is gradually coming alive again.

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  17. Nice job on the pruning, it will still look amazing with the blossom. I guess one day I will have to prune my newly planted plum trees, but somehow I think it will be a while!

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    1. The cherry is getting on a bit now it was here when we moved in and that was thirty years ago.

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