Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

Shame about the need to "get someone in" but that has been my fate as well, as you say, just have to suck it up & enjoy what you can do, forgetting what you can't

The more one has, the greater the need for others' skills and equipment. That's why I don't fancy a large, complicated house. Outdoors, we constantly come up against things we cannot deal with ourselves. 😕

So it was yesterday, when Mrs Dusty and I headed out to fell a couple more trees, before they leaf-up. You might remember the Willow and the Black Chestnut which were blocking light to our best Walnut.

Well….the willow is 18"+ at the base and my saw is only 14" so that wasn't going to work! 😣 The Black Walnut was also pretty thick, so in the end we only took the vertical section away.

Moving on to our mini wood, we had another Alder to take out, larger than the first which fell the 'wrong' way last week. 🤔This one had a very pronounced lean, so we knew which way it would go. The question was how violently it would bash other trees on its way down! 😮 So, I made cut number 1 in the photo leaving a hinge, and it gently tipped into the trees behind, remaining attached to the stump. As cut 1 hadn't shifted it, Imade cut two and finally separated it from the stump, whereupon it plopped into the ground.

Cuts 3 & 4 followed, with the tree dropping about 3 feet each time and becoming more upright. By the time we got to cut 5 it was vertical, so I wanted to push it the other way (towards the camera in the photo) where there was more room for it to fall. Mrs Dusty got out of the way, and that's where it went. Hooray!

You can just see the lowest part of the trunk on the right, and the other two large bits in the centre. See how far the tree has moved from its stump! 😲 Mrs Dusty is just tidying-up a hawthorn we pruned. It remained undamaged.

Final picture: top of tree down. Still have to chop it up.

We don't have more trees inside the woodland to remove this year, but when we take out others in the future, this is the way we'll try to do it. Some are too large already, so for those we'll either need to employ someone, or just ignore them! 🤣

wort

That Alder wood is very bright, I like it though. Glad your on the mend Dusty.

Yesterday was very sunny, I did my dom nonsense and pegged out, before going to dd2s to wait for workman. Whilst waiting took secateurs to the front garden and filled her green bin. Back home to find washing dry and able to put straight away.

Today is equally bright so another wash on the line , and will look at what needs doing today.

Everyone seems busy , and I’m enjoying the non garden chat !

Dustyevsky

Lovely blossoms Bluey. I saw two of its sisters last week in my home town I'd guess they were 20+ years older

Did you go home the long way round 2p?

wort said: That Alder wood is very bright, I like it though. Glad your on the mend Dusty……I’m enjoying the non garden chat !

Yes, alder goes completely orange, so it's easy to spot in firewood. Not the best, but dried properly, it's fine.

The cellulitis is gone, thanks, but I have sciatica now instead. 🙄 Fortunately, it can be relieved by exercises, and mild painkillers too, if the exercises fail. I'm more worried about getting fitness back for walking again after the winter layoff. Must lose a couple of kilos for a start! 😪

Non gardening chat? Here? 😂

OT: A misty, moisty start with thick cloud, but better promised later today….oh, hang on…that's been reduced to an hour in the afternoon. 😯 Never mind, better tomorrow. ☺️ Why is it always tomorrow? 😕

Farway

Sunny blue sky & mild.

You all beat me to it, the ornamental cherry opposite my house is blossoming nicely, i was going to post it in next day or two.

Well done on tree work Dusty + Mrs D, and handy you can burn it as well. Hope the sciatica clears and you can get walking for the year

My Castor oil seeds are on damp paper in the airing cupboard. This weekend maybe start on some runners & manky toots

Hope all you IOW toms spring up YBE, were these seed saved from the toms, or bought as seeds? Just asking 'cos some IOW I tried, from yellow plum toms, grew into triffids and fruit free

I need to pot on Miss Figgy, she has filled her pot & getting root bound. Could be this afternoon's job in the sunshine

twopenny

Yes Dusty I did. Much better for the blood pressure 😄 took about 10mins more. The thing is they've cut off some back roads to stop us. So bad yesterday that the website of information had all the traffic lights flashing and 'what do you put when it's beyond severe '. And that's without holiday makers!

Wow that fig is coming on fast Farway! I could do with your magic on some of mine.

Bluey it's the small things that give you a bubble of happiness 🙂

Wort your doing well there! And karma for your good deeds too.

Sun is shining, seeds moved into sunshine to give the little dears a boost. Getting a bit leggy. Plumber been, bank appt cancelled I'm off to the moors proper with my camera to reduce my blood pressure before the hospital pre op tomorrow. I'll have to sort out all the cards and puter when I'm stuck in a few weeks hence 🤞 there's a heck of a lot to do.

Dustyevsky

2p said: I'm off to the moors proper with my camera to reduce my blood pressure before the hospital pre op tomorrow. I'll have to sort out all the cards and puter when I'm stuck in a few weeks hence 🤞 there's a heck of a lot to do.

I hope you don't mind me asking, but what bit are they operating on, and is it Taunton or Shepton? We have much experience (mostly positive!) of the latter location. 😊 Of course, if you don't want to be specific, don't feel obliged to say. Mrs Dusty didn't think the pre-op too onerous for her knee job. She also didn't get to sit down and order me around after it for long, either! She was soon off down the lane on crutches, and timing herself on a local circuit each day. 😇

Hope you get some good shots. Our sun here today is limited, though it's pleasant out there. The purslane I sowed on Monday is already up. Is that a record? 😃

Farway

Sun still out and warm here.

Potted on Miss Figgy, she is about waist high including pot now. With enough arms to be an Indian goddess 😁

Probably needs sorting but I'm leaving well alone for now. Big enough to fruit I think, but nothing is certain is it? also gave her a dose of BF & B as I suspect the "fresh" compost is way past it by now

Talking of fertiliser. Heard on R4 this morning, it's not only oil that goes through Straits of Hormuz, seems half the world's fertilser does as well, so expect shortages, and price rises. FWIW if you see a a bargain I'd buy some now

Best of wishes with the pre op etc 2P

I see your cherries, and raise you a magnolia 😎

-taff

I missed the alder pic, how weird, do all cut bits go orange? And yeah, easier to find in a log pile for sure. The beast, I forgot about, but I remember the one in 2010 ish, I managed to avoid going to work because I couldn't drive out of the car park [ I was in a flat then] Oh how I was disappointed…[not really, i loved it.] Less, i did chuckle at your sign..

Nothing to do about dog poo Farway? Sticks in the ground don't help? I don't think I've seen a castor oil plant before, don't the seeds look like borlotti? I've been soaking my bay tree berries in the hope they'll sprout, but who knows…So I went and spent my voucher and bought myself a small pot of a bay bush in case which will be separated out to make a bay hedge at the lotment. Tips for sprouting bay seeds welcome.

I also got a viburnum after seeing the lovely flowers, it's only a foot high three twig affair at the moment but a Charles someone or other with the pink flowers. Looking forward to that.

Fingers crossed for pre op 2p, I like your way of reducing the blood pressure :)

How lovely to hear an owl. I think I’ve only heard one when we've been in Italy, it nests in the old church bell tower [ rarely rung and only for the odd mass] I've only seen them in sanctuaries here, big gold star for you ybe.

It is marvellously sunny here, and there's loads of stuff to get one with but I might just content myself with separating the bay and sowing some tomatoes and chillies [ Yellow banana chilli, big, very nice] but need to get some Jalapeño seeds because while I do enjoy growing all and sundry chillies, I have decided finally! to only grow what I like and since my mouth doesn't enjoy being on fire for no reason, milder ones it is…The tomatoes, I have several varieties to sow so I will have to pick discerningly.

It's some kind of record Dusty yes :)

wort

2p hope you got some good photos , if the weather was like here it was perfect .I spent time in the garden painted some of the fence, it was a touching up job as the climbers I’ve pulled off left white marks in the black paint. It’s looking fab again now. Took about an hour then I sat in the sun for an hour.
Next doors blossom tree is out, mine is later. Rhododendron is in bud as is the early clematis.

Dusty sciatica is horrid, take care and hopefully get back to walking. I’m hoping for a walk tomorrow, I’m hoping to lose a bit of weight too.

twopenny

Yes Taff, wide open quiet spaces and wildlife bring me calm 😌 till I return. Wort not great but yes some photos.

Wort, sitting in the sun for an hour 🙂 that's what gardens are meant for. Looking forward to my turn.

Taff a new viburnum! Looking forward to seeing it flower. It's great being able to compare the real thing on here.

Bluey I had my happy bubble moment today. Just me exploring the quiet sunny moors and where I stopped to reverse was a little bird having a frantically happy bath in a puddle 🙂 I took some photos because no way was he stopping his pleasure. It's obvious joy made me happy too......l.untill I had to reverse in there. He gave me a filthy look as he flew off. In fact I think it was a she with that look 😉

Only gardening was plumber putting on a new garden tap . Hopefully it will give a decent flow now. If not it looks pretty 🤨

Farway magnolias are wonderful! I haven't seen one yet but they often come early here. You've beaten me to it. Would love to have a full size one in a garden of mine. My potted one couldn't cope with drought and bugs ☹️

Might see you tomorrow as I now have a smart phone and will need something to do in the waiting room. I've had tips on the vile coffee machine there. Apparently the hot chocolate is gorgeous 🙂