popular What have you done today in the Garden?

Ta Pac
We've got quite a few Hazel bushes, they grow quickly and I use the poles for alsorts, fences, bean poles etc. I made a lookout platform last year while I was cutting the hedge poles so Barry and I can see out over the field



We get a few squirrels after the Hazelnuts but Grayham brings them in for me to kill so he can eat them

 

Did I ask you if you know The Merchant's House in Southampton Oreti?

 

I certainly do @Zigs . We walked past it yesterday. Such history......if only our lovely old buildings could talk..... I would certainly never tire of listening to them .

For those who might be interested

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Merchant's_House

 

Thanks for that link @Oreti, I've always liked those buildings, got a lot in Worcester where i was born and raised.

 

I lime plastered that, inside and out in one day with 3 other plasterers and 2 lads labouring for us

 

Oh Wow!! Well you all did a brilliant job. It's a fabulous place .

 

You're welcome....we are very privileged living here as we seem to be surrounded by these truly beautiful buildings, not only in Southampton, but also Salisbury and ....to me one of the best places..Winchester.

 

Ta @Oreti I love Salisbury too, spent many months living there while working on Clarendon Palace. It's always felt like home ever since I went there as a Ziglet, then I found our family came from there hundreds of years ago. Found an ancestor burried at Heytsbury who had the same name as my Dad and worked on Churches like I used to

 

That's very interesting about your late ancestor @Zigs

 

My helper burnt both piles of brush from winter pruning. Plus the branches and trunks from last week's fruit tree removals.

When it's a bit warmer outside there are around 5 more selected for removal. They have done their jobs. Which is give me something to try that I couldn't get at the store, and something to putter with.and forget me workdays. And, if I'm honest, to feed and shelter deer.

Also a couple of giant buddleia trees, 15 or 20 feet tall. The catalog said height 5 feet tall. These are non-invasive types that the state allows.

I'm actually a month ahead of schedule for the culling. When it's done, that won't be clouding my psyche any more.

After that, just some normal winter pruning to be done. Grapes, mini-dwarf apples, pears, plums, cherries. peaches.

Then get back to work in the rose garden, which needs more cleanup. My target for that is March or April. The kitchen garden then, too - more cleanup, rebuild two raised beds, and redo the pathways. Half of the raised beds are already ready for Spring, so I'm ahead of schedule for that too.

Still plenty of work ahead. I don't know if it's going to kill me or keep me going longer!

 

Sowed some verbena bonariences and Erigeron seeds, they've been in the fridge for a week for a cold spell.

 

That reminds me the Cleome seeds that required stratifcation have been in our fridge since they were harvested back in Sept/ Oct. Must think about sowing them soon.
That's one seed I never need to sow @Logan ( VB) it self seeds everywhere and needs no help from me.

 

Welp, I've gone and lost my shed key !! .I always put it in the junk drawer in the kitchen. Not there. I've been searching high and low. If I can't find it I'll have to call a lovksmith and god knows what that'll cost. We don't even have a locksmith in town. The closest is over the Florida border 26 miles away.

 

Oh @Anniekay ,I'm keeping my fingers tightly crossed in the hope that you find the key.

 

It’s a tricky situation when important items are lost . I spent half of yesterday and today looking for my glasses. After I give up … I found them this morning behind the reading lamp squished between the wall, wasn’t even looking for them. Very aggravating to say the least even though I have several reading glasses this lost /found pair were a fav.

Anniekay Sending the garden fairy’s to help search for the shed key. I have also locked myself outta the house , the barn storage and even my car over the years. It seems as I am hiking up in age it’s becoming a common occurrence. Risky business . Installed pass code locks to replace older key only door locks. I have even used a sledge hammer to remove a door lock. It’s cheaper to replace the door handle/lock than call a locksmith. I too live out in the boonies and locksmiths charge fees for out of area , mileage and everything else they can legally add on to a bill.

Which reminds me the mails box key gotta get more keys made……