The last week, like the previous few, has been really tough. Like us, all the other garden contractors have fallen behind with their schedules because of the almost constant wind and rain. Lawns got out of hand, weeds grew, and hedges got bigger and bigger. But whereas you can't/shouldn't cut grass when it's wet, you can at least carefully get some trimming done to make some sort of progress.
And we did have some days when just a few hours gave a glimpse of that warm yellow thing that was once in the sky so often. And so we cut hedges and trimmed shrubs a lot. I took picture after picture, and far more hedges than you guys would want to see, and so I have just put a taster on here today. There were Laurel hedges, Holly hedges, Leylandii hedges,
Mixed ones of Escallonia, Senecio and Hebe, such as this one on a wind and rain swept Highcliffe clifftop. Either side of me are two much bigger ones that help shelter the owners patio.
But I suppose for me, the most rewarding trimming came at the end of the week. I have mentioned this elderly couple before, who contact me twice a year to help them keep things a little under control. Each year they get older and more frail. The level area is an area that the gentleman has maintained for fruit and vegetables all of the many years they have lived here. Each year it becomes more and more of a struggle for them, and I have had to spray off the weeds for them the last few times, weeds that for so many years were pulled by hand and the soil dug over with a spade.
They are both in their eighties now, and the soil still gets dug over with a spade, but much more gradually than when I first knew them. They got in touch later in the year than usual, due to having to deal with the usual stuff that life in old age throws at you, and so things have become really quite out of control. It was also pouring with rain today.
The hedges were very tricky to do, as the ladder became buried in the overgrowth of the hedging, thus not allowing proper vision to see what I was doing, and making manoeverability of the trimmer very difficult. This was part of the outside of the hedge, and comprised mostly Laurel and Elderberry. The Elderberry in particular was enormous!
But I gradually made routes in, and got to the top, to work my way along.
By the end though, things were once again under control hedgewise, although I really don't know how they will manage the fruit and veg area from now on. Wonderful and inspiring, kind and gentle old people. I hope that I will be like them.
We did have one evening that was gloriously clear, and so instead of following the pattern of so many days gone by, where because of the bad weather, and our own tiredness, we just lock ourselves indoors with old movies and endless tea, we took ourselves down to Poole Quay, as we had noticed a rather special ship sailing into the harbour earlier in the day. Poole is home to Sunseeker, probably the most famous luxury yacht maker in the world, and their style is easily identifiable. This was a classic Sunseeker, although not one of their 'BIG' ones.
By 9pm we had to leave our beautiful ship 'Tenacious', and walked away, while watching some lucky people boarding for their own journey. Luckily, the following morning was also warm and sunny, and so while Amanda did some of her own stuff, I took myself off for the morning, and a very long bike ride along the seafront.......
Take care all, and thanks for dropping by.
I'll trade you some rain for 110 degrees F.
ReplyDeleteThat was a lot of elderberry. Is it different than what we call elderberry here? The ones on my parents farm is blooming and will make berries that people use for jam or wine.