The perils of groundcovers...
Periwinkle Flowers
I've moved into the Septic Tank Garden (an evocative name, hee hee) to clean out all the Periwinkle (which shouldn't even be here) and Lamium (last attempt at digging was ten years ago, therefore sporting ten years of luxuriant regrowth). Oh joy! The perils of groundcovers...
Good morning to my garden. Have just come back inside from a brisk walk with the dogs and my camera. Apologised to the Weeping Maiden (she's a very early Camellia) whose flowers have been ruined by the frosts.
Looked down at her feet, noticed some rogue Periwinkle. Oops. It was running all around the Septic Tank Garden. Did I want it to? Took a deep breath.
NO!!!
The answer was no. Or - rather - NO!!! Not here. Because then it will gallop off across the Pond Paddock, and before I blink it will be knocking on the door of Pond Cottage. I already have one Periwinkle Wilderness in my garden. One is enough. Periwinkle has rather strong, stubborn roots. The perfect groundcover, you might say, and difficult to remove.
Lamium Leaves
Blast - this means a total dig out, which includes its buddy groundcover, the invasive lemon-flowering Lamium. Buy first, it means a hot cup of coffee, and a refilling of my tank with gardening resolve. A total dig out! Aargh! And today is Monday. A new project for a new week! Yeay!
Lunchtime...
Oh yes! I am getting somewhere, sitting in the dirt, using the hand digger (this removal is better done on a small scale). Am momentarily inside, cosy and warm, wearing clean jeans, listening to a Brahms piano concerto - so beautiful. But I have to get back out there. Back on with the gardening shorts.
Later, dusk...
What a groovy day! In total I've worked for five hours. Burnt three barrow loads of Lamium and Periwinkle on the bonfire, along with other drier loads sourced from under the hedge, and some armfuls of gum tree bark.
Baby Pink Camellia
Feeling very proud, I collected all my hand tools and remembered to bring in my camera, which I'd hung in THE most random place - high up in the baby pink Camellia.
Re the pantry mouse
Good news. No further sign of the pantry mouse, who (I suspect) was in there for a few days. He/she had been industriously carrying hazelnuts into the (open) tea bag container, then hunkering down, chewing holes in their hard shells, and munching the nuts. A good mouse to display natural, wild behaviour, not just raid the (highly processed and readily edible) cat biscuits. Have, however, tipped all the tea bags into the rubbish.