It's all about digging....

...one way or another...

I like to dig.   Seren also likes to dig.   My digging is constructive....and hers, as far as I am concerned is not constructive.

Entire bed now fenced in but it wasn't when I took this photo.

Therefore is the reason for completing my puppy-proofing fence round my front of the patio bed. This operation nearly cost me a new pair of specs....Leah was 'helping' and managed to smack me round the head with one of the stakes for the wire fencing.   She didn't mean to, of course. Nevertheless,it was an excellent smack and I saw stars for a moment.

The ground is lovely and soft for digging at the moment, all the rain has made it so.   Today there is rather more rain, hail and sleet than I'd wish but that is why I did the major digging jobs on Friday and Saturday.

I moved the winter flowering currant to the front garden to complete the hedge I am building there.   I hope it survives, it was quite big.   I grew it from a cutting a 3 years ago when I moved here.

Winter flowering currant - photo cribbed from internet.
My bush is slightly smaller.

I also moved the Kniphofia ...again...it was too close to a Mallow.   So now, fingers crossed everything 'takes' and doesn't keel over dead.  It should be OK.  

Kniphofia - photo also cribbed from internet

Then I went and dug a bit in G's garden.   Another Hebe that needed replanting temporarily and a few Hostas that need a temporary home until she has time to get into their new raised bed.

So, all in all it was quite a digging sort of weekend.   I was amused to find this joke - it seems appropriate (except - as far as I know, both my sons are not in prison)

An old Italian lived alone in New Jersey USA and wanted to plant his annual tomato garden

It was very difficult work, as the ground was hard.

His only son, Vicenzo, who used to help him, was in prison.

The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

"Dear Vicenzo,

I'm feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year.

I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot.

I know if you were here my troubles would be over.

I know you'd be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.

Love, Papa"

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

"Dear Papa,

Don't dig up that garden - that's where the bodies are buried".

Love,

Vicenzo

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies.

They apologized to the old man and left.

That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

"Dear Papa,

Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now.

That's the best I could do under the circumstances".

Love you,

Vicenzo

Oh well, I do my own digging...luckily I quite like digging and the ground isn't hard at the moment.   Also I seem to be getting on top of all the rubble that is buried just below the surface in most of my garden so things are gradually improving.

Good News.

Pair of Robins (also not my photo)

Today - in spite of the hail and sleet, I noticed that the Robin who had lost his mate earlier in the winter...probably to the next door cat...has found a new mate and there were two little red chests pecking away at the meal worms I'd put out!  That's a grand way to start the week.

I do hope they nest and bring up young.   I think the garden is becoming more friendly for birds.   There is a lot more growth than when I moved in and I can't wait to establish a pond ...that will really make a difference.

So, in spite of the dire weather there is good news in the garden.   More bulbs pushing through.   More buds swelling on trees and shrubs.   The Hazel has little catkins ...I wish I had a female Hazel too....and look at the Hellebore by my kitchen door....it has really come into its own.

Hellebore by my kitchen door..

I think the shelter we put round the grape vine is just right for sheltering it from the worst of the wind too ...it certainly seems at home there.  

For pyrography

March is nearly upon us.   I will complete the pruning this week, weather permitting.   I will also attach training wires to the fence for the vine, jasmine and the honeysuckle.  All these jobs are easier to do when there is less growth so I can see where I am drilling.  Oh and I promised myself IF I did the housework that I could spend the afternoon making a plaque for JP's grave.   I have a little pyrography tool that I bought in Malta recently for just this little job.

But right now...well right now it is time for housework.   God sends foul weather days so lazy housewives like me have nothing more compelling to do but clean and tidy INSIDE instead of outside where we'd rather be.

Bye for now, chat again soon...probably in March ALREADY!