Labour day

This was Tuesday. Which is just a few days ago, but feels like last week. I had booked up Nicolas for four hours work and my list was crinkling in my pocket as soon as I saw him approach. Early start, chainsaw and strimmer at the ready.

First job was the most dramatic.   We have had this large cumbersome box bush outside the front door for three years now.   It’s not a winning plant.   And it always gets in the way when you drive up to unload bulky groceries.   Not to mention the thicket of grubs and pests that seem to have taken up residence in the leaves.

I had first suggested a major prune. Everyone else suggested a chain saw. So in five minutes it was gone.   And Nicolas even managed to cut out the stump as well.   A quick re-arrangement of the green planters and you would never know it was a large plant abutting the front door.

And then it was on to the orchard.   I started one end with my little strimmer (the easy bits) and Nicolas hacked at the brambles at the other.   There are a few elderflower seedlings attempting to turn into trees in the wrong spot below the wall outside the stables.   And I just can’t reach them.   So in about an hour we had made short work of the walls and slope.

It looks a bit bald. But in a week or so it will be green and orderly.

The raking is the worst part.   But you get heaps of good compost material.   I attacked with a rake, while Nicolas hauled down the stones that had been lurking in the long grass (for later collection) and went to prune the dead branches from the cherry trees.

These stones get in the way of strimming and have been hiding on the slope for years.   A few have even rolled down onto the flat orchard area and get in the way of the mower.   I just needed a hefty pair of strong person and sturdy wheelbarrow and it was done. I wish of course I had asked Nicolas to do this ages back.   But it’s done now and I’m very pleased.

The accessible cherries have been pruned.   Nicolas doesn’t like heights. And the mighty mulberry has had a rather radical trim. I must go down later and take more pictures. It is only a work in progress.   More tidying needs to be achieved before the final result.

But at least it means I can pick more cherries. The ones on the first terrace below the house are the ripest right now.   All the rest seem to be a week off at least.