Dogs and goats...
For the last three days I've been working my way downstream from Duck Lawn to the Hen House Gardens, enjoying the winter afternoon sunshine. Winnie has kept me company each day, while Pebbles has sat way over by the fence staring at next-door's goat. Just staring. Silly dog! But, to be fair, the goat stares back. Silly goat!
Pebbles by the fence
I've raked up squillions of oak leaves and stuffed them into big black plastic bags. I've sat in the dirt, weeded, removed alarming numbers of ivy seedlings, raked out dry mess, and dug out more Phormiums and Carexes. I've divided and replanted miniature Agapanthus, cleared paths, and dragged out small pieces of trees. An dead old rugosa rose, name unknown, has gone onto the bonfire. Another, Agnes, hardly has any live stems.
Smoky bonfire
At the end of each day I've cleaned up my mess. This really is the secret to a happy gardening life! And the nature of the mess has allowed me to dump it on the bonfire and burn it. I sit on the wet grass (don't care), watch the flames (and just a little bit of smoke, oops), and feel very happy.
My cottage is winter-cold...
I have some personal news. I have temporarily moved back into my house bedroom, where each night I get 'Fredded' - one of my large tabby Fred cats leaps in the window and cuddles up on the bed.
Minimus :- Darling Minimus, my little grey cottage cat.
My cottage has felt winter-cold, and it's catless -my cottage cats (Minimus and Speckles the stray) sadly are no longer alive. I still put food out on the verandah for Foxie the ginger stray, and it gets eaten. By Foxie? No idea.
Flower Carpet Roses
Meanwhile in other parts of the garden Camellias are flowering, as are some of the sillier Flower Carpet roses, which I believe can flower all year in some warmer places. Which reminds me - here in my garden it's almost rose pruning time. Aargh! Why on earth do I grow so many?