Giant problems...
Sometimes the gardening tasks I set myself are alarmingly big. Like today - I am tackling (i.e. trimming) the giant reed by Car Bridge. Should have guessed that anything with the word 'giant' in its title could become a problem. Silly, me.
Phormium tenax
At the same time I am slowly dismantling the huge Phormium tenax alongside. The plan is to eventually dig it completely out.
Voices in my head...
The tiniest voice inside my head keeps suggesting this job is actually more suited to Non-Gardening Partner, with his power tools and man-muscles. Then my 'girls can still do anything' voice breaks through. Harden up, Princess! Remember what can be achieved with old-woman-power! You can move mountains - or, to be more specific, large Phormiums.
Side of the Car Bridge
Physical, grunty work...
NGP escaped and went flying, so I worked hard on my own for five hours - it was very physical, grunty work, though the sound of the nearby running water was nice. Uncovered a teenage gum tree which was growing very nicely. NGP arrived home, came to see what I was up to, and chain-sawed it down. Thanks, NGP.
I tried not to sulk as I chopped up the reeds, barrowed five loads of mess to the bonfire, and burnt the lot. Yeay for me - a big day's effort. So the Arondo is tidied up, just the pretty fresh stalks left. And the Phormium tenax is half down. Time to wander around with my camera and photograph some autumn delights. The colours in my garden are really beautiful.
Apres-gardening, I've done an hour's piano practice (Bach's English Suite in E minor, just the Prelude). Loving my iPad for music reading. And as a reward I am going on a scenic train ride in Austria, along flat-bottomed valleys and rivers which behave. I deserve this.
Monday April 28th
After doing my piano practice I faced the second day of My Great Phormium Removal, this time with the axe as well as my other tools. Made good progress in a couple of two hour sessions - but it's such a relentlessly physical task.
I sit down, then I kneel, maybe swing the axe, pull at the roots, slice away madly with the kitchen breadknife, stand up, load the wheelbarrow with the dried leaves, then sit down again. But my lovely dog Winnie has been keeping me company.
Autumn Flower colours
Three loads taken to the bonfire, the heavy fans and chunky pieces of root dumped in the rubbish bin (can't burn them, can't compost them). Last of all I lit the bonfire, which flamed merrily.
If you keep going you usually get somewhere.- Moosey words of wisdom.
Am stylishly apres-gardening in my 'green with mainly brown dogs' shirt, brown Ugg boots, and a yummy evening meal gurgling away in the oven. Feeling very proud for keeping going. If you keep going you usually get somewhere.
Footnote - next morning
I am sooooooooooo happy. It's raining! That means I can have the day off. A bleak, rainy day? Wonderful! Yippee! Fabulous!