Fence - Phase 3, the view from next door

Not sure how long the Poundstretcher bamboo panel's gonna last but it's there and looking pretty tha noo. The wire holding the thing together is really thin, try hammering nails thro the bamboo and it splits, we'll see ...at least its given me some ideas for what to do next when it drops to bits (hopefully it'll last a year or two). Underneath the trellis near the shed I'll pin some green/black fine plastic mesh - natural looking brush-wood would look nice but no doubt go rotten in no time in contact with the soil. Lets see if its all still standing in 2wks, I hope so, I really hope so, the last section was a s*d to put up!

Fencing - Phase 2

After much cursing thumping posts in and taking them out again phase 2 of the fence is almost complete. I need two more metal spikes, which should arrive on Monday, for the remaining posts and theoretically it should then join up with Phase 1 (the tape measure indicates that there's a good chance it will). It may look as if the post nearest the shed is leaning at an alarming angle - I've used a wide angle lens which distorts things, take a look at the shed - that definitely doesnae lean in the real life. Ok there's a gap between the soil and the trellis - that's where the hedge is gonna go (probably Beech with the occasional Winter Honeysuckle). Best time to plant bare rooted hedge plants has always been November - phew, from Tuesday on I'll be able to take a rest a while then (in theory:-)!

Butterflies, at last..

I was gonna take some photos of my butterfly bush before the flowers died and say - 'no butterflies despite leaving pruning till early May so as to produce late flowers'. Couldn't believe I actually scared butterfly away whilst doing just that - first of the year! Last year was very poor too, flowers were dead by the time the butterflies arrived. Two yrs ago it was butterflies all day long every day for weeks (no record of when exactly tho). From 3pm onwards only one butterfly remained and that preferred sunning itself on my white walls to the bush. Enjoy, I did!


Left: Small Tortoiseshell. Right: Red Admiral


L+R: Small Tortoiseshell

The berry season begins

Blackcurrants started to ripen last wk in June, so far 4kg in the freezer, slowing down now but reckon should total 5kg (not bad from 2 bushes). Redcurrants ready to start picking anytime now. Whitecurrents perhaps a week later. Glad they don't all ripen at once! Strawberries started last week, raspberries starting to come good this week. Quantities? ...they never stay in the bowl long enough to be weighed! Gotta be measured in some quantity of enjoyment - any suggestions? Gooseberries about .45kg. Sawflies didn't seam to do much damage but perhaps they did after all.