Winter wall building part one
This much I know….
I love nothing more than delicately chasing long tendrils of bindweed roots and digging them out.
I could do it for hours. And on this terrace bank, I could do it for days.
And still not get rid of the scourge.
And winter is coming.
I have been wanting to rebuild this Last Wall for years. And managed to walk past the rock pile and mess for exactly a year. That was when Nicolas pulled all the rubble pile from outside my office and stacked them carefully down here on what I sometimes call the Wattle Bank.
Well it’s better than calling it the Old Septic Tank Bank.
![](https://www.fruitfulresearch.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_7810-1024x768.jpeg)
The wattles (mimosas) are growing lustily.
And trying to flower in this mild climate. They will get slammed by proper winter this week. I can’t possibly fleece them as they are so tall.
My first job was to pull off the rocks and stones that I have been lobbing onto this mini bank for years.
![](https://www.fruitfulresearch.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_8256-1024x768.jpeg)
And then uproot the four hazelnut trees. They have a beautiful red leaf. And if all goes well, I will plant them here and make a gorgeous nutty hedge.
But for now they are going to have to sulk in the potager in pots for a bit.
And then it was off with that weed proof fabric I put down.
![](https://www.fruitfulresearch.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_8241-1024x768.jpeg)
What a god-awful mess.
The wall above is falling down.
Held up by grape vines and brambles.
![](https://www.fruitfulresearch.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_8251-1024x768.jpeg)
And that was when I called a screeching halt to the proceedings.
This is way too big for me to do on my own.
What an absurdly ambitious new year’s resolution.
![](https://www.fruitfulresearch.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_8255-768x1024.jpeg)
So I have decided to tidy it up. Roll the rocks when I could.
Rake like mad to give the illusion of order.
And march swiftly away.
I think I’ll just do some gentle weeding instead.