Gardening.

[Gramaisc]

Some years ago, a free sycamore arrived and, for some reason, it seems to be particularly favoured by the Leafcutter Bees that, I presume, lodge somewhere in the stone retaining wall behind it.

I've never seen them, or found where the nests are, but they do no harm and make a nice job of the lacework effect on their favourite tree, so I keep it going for them.

This year's work has started.

 

[Gramaisc]

Somebody doesn't mind me leaving a few weeds in the gravel...

 

[Gramaisc]

I've had a lot of freeze/thaw cycles and, realising that this tends to make the remaining snow rather more dense than the fresh stuff, I decided to see if I could get the packed snow off the greenhouse roofs.

I managed to do this without the falling blocks breaking any glass and I feel that it was a good idea. The weight that was being held up by the roof panes was even more than I expected - and now, the solar radiation can get in a bit better.

I cut the snow into blocks and cleared each section in stages, as a whole slab was really quite heavy and dense.

I did briefly consider doing it a bit more neatly and using the "bricks" to build the cat an igloo.

This has reduced a bit of night-time insulation, but I feel that the sacrifice of however little that is, is greatly outweighed by not having the weight defeat the roofing panes.

 

[Gramaisc]

The weather has warmed up a lot, we have seen +12C here and today was sunny enough to provoke the greenhouse windows into opening. This reminded me that there was a small job to do in one of them.

When I cut the shelves, I was aware that shrinkage might occur as they dried out, and so I left a 'bit extra' on them, to allow for that (I hoped). This guess has proven adequate on all but one piece, which has fallen down a couple of times. By flattening four small corner braces and screwing them in place, it should be reasonably secure now. It will never have much weight on, anyway, as there is a louvre window above it and that is often open for ventilation.

It was made clear to me that this sort of work has safety implications and must, therefore, be carried out under direct supervision.

 

[arthur]

Ahem! You don't ''have a Cat.'' Cats have Staff, not owners.

That is so true. Mine decides when he will sit on my lap and he treads on me and wont sit down until i raise the chair leg lift so he can spread out.

 

[Glam]

That is so true. Mine decides when he will sit on my lap and he treads on me and wont sit down until i raise the chair leg lift so he can spread out.

Ahem! Photo please xx

 

[Trumpet]

That is so true. Mine decides when he will sit on my lap and he treads on me and wont sit down until i raise the chair leg lift so he can spread out.

Common scenario at my gaff too.

 

[Gramaisc]

Although the winter seemed cold to us, there were not long periods where the soil was frozen, and this, inevitably, leads to a continued growth of moss whilst the grass is dormant, in the cold, wet conditions.

For the last few years, I have had professional help in removing the more prolific moss growth. They were busy today. Some of their dwellings across the road received damage during the recent storm, so large-scale renovations are underway.

Apparently, although of an avian background, the operatives have received full authority to work on the site.

 

[DeltaHotel]