Ac Baker wrote:Some intriguing similarities with Skye, and some significantly more severe challenges too:
Ooh, thanks for that! Yes same problems with sheep overgrazing, but at least I'm not likely to have lava flowing across the land....They really have a problem with wind erosion too. We're windy, but at least I started with turf.
The bluebells have been superb this year, really gorgeous. Not particularly useful, but good for the soul They grow all around this seating area; positioned deliberately to be a nice place to sit. It is near the river so you get the sounds from that, and not too sheltered so if there is a wind the midges are not too bad.
a fragrant path
The growth just exploded over the last couple of months. The spring was late arriving, and although the dry weather didn't last for long, the daylength means that everything grows twice as much to catch up. I've scythed one half of the top loop of the main trackway, and my husband has been round most of the smaller paths with the mower. The grass was getting on for knee high, which is wet on your legs (and bad for catching ticks...)
another bench with scythed track near blueberry patch
The blueberries are amass with flowers, much to the appreciation of the bees! The bushes are really getting to a stage that makes them worth protecting for the fruit. I've started crocheting a net, but haven't got very far yet! I may have an old fishing net that can be mended that I could use this year, or net curtains again.
a promise of future blueberries
I'm a bit unhappy on the health of some of my alder trees - the new growth has been a bit patchy. I'm wondering if the problem I have with sudden dying off is spreading. I also had an elder tree, that bloomed wonderfully last year, not some back at all this spring .
The pignuts are in full bloom now making a froth of white in the long grass. My shell garden is starting to show some promise - the shrubs and perennial veg getting bigger. It mainly looks like grass in this photo mind you!
shell garden with pignut and kale
I haven't got much more done with the raised mini hugel as yet - mostly I've been working on my new polytunnel getting that up to speed. Also the weather has been a bit cold and damp, so when I do have good weather I'm still trying to catch back on my main food crops - I've not sown any of my roots yet!
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They grow all around this seating area; positioned deliberately to be a nice place to sit. It is near the river so you get the sounds from that, and not too sheltered so if there is a wind the midges are not too bad.
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