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What does Aaron have in common with a bee? You might be forgiven for imagining that it is that they both have very high work rates. That would be a good answer, but incorrect.
Watching our friend, unlit ciggy between lips, firing one-handed from the hip with his petrol-operated chain saw as he tackles the reshaping of our cypress tree, may provide a clue,
especially when you see the height of his tripodal ladder.
Aaron always clears up along the way. Today he dragged branches to the Back Drive where he cut up a few logs for his client, Susan, leaving the rest for the ‘burn site’ of the dump.
This branch demonstrates his clean cuts,
while this view from the patio displays the finished shape.
The persicaria red dragon baring its bloody fangs in the Dragon Bed,
and the crocosmia solfaterre are among the plants that will now receive more light and air.
In the Rose Garden, an intrepid fly scales the walls of Winchester Cathedral,
and geraniums in the stone urn beside the potting shed enjoy a glimpse of Summer Wine.
Japanese anemones appear to grow a foot each day.
The bee skirting a hopeful spider’s web, in order to work on a verbena bonarensis, provides the answer to my opening conundrum. Each in his own way is successfully dicing with death.
Later this afternoon we pulled up some brambles. As I walked along the Back Drive to deposit them in a bag for the dump, I almost stepped on twin juvenile collared doves sunning themselves on the gravel. Naturally I hurried indoors for my camera. When I returned they seemed to have disappeared. They were, however, simply playing hide and seek, foraging among the pebbles.
Not yet old enough for timidity, almost in tandem, they carried on about their business and left me to mine.
Here is a sweet pea for Bruce.
This evening we dined on Mr Chan’s Hordle Chinese Take Away fare. Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the cabernet sauvignon.
You have such beautiful garden Derrick. Wonderful pictures.
Thanks very much, Rupali
Aaron and the bees both do seem to be efficient workers.
Wonderful photos, Derrick. I really like the shots of the young doves.
Many thanks, Merril. They were a bonus at the end of the day
Hi Derrick!
Glad to see you back, Lynn
Do you know who tracks the doves ?
Thanks a lot, Van. See my comment on your next comment
Or am I taking the collars too literally ??? Lovely pics, anyway.
When older, they have their own black collars: https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1348&bih=635&q=collared+dove&oq=collared&gs_l=img.1.1.0l10.1251.3394.0.6414.9.9.0.0.0.0.107.671.7j1.8.0….0…1.1.64.img..1.8.670.0..35i39k1.Hd_q8NujXG4
Okay, then. Thanks for the pics !
I thought the header pic was a wow until we got to the juveniles going about their business with you standing over them taking those beautiful photos. Which just about proves my theory that we are all unafraid of each other until educated by our elders to be otherwise. I wonder if nobody told Aaron he had to be careful or he might fall……….
Thanks very much, Pauline. Sound theory. I did ask him if he was insured. 🙂
🙂
I take it Aaron is planning his retirement to the Riviera after finishing your garden, where he can relax and light up his ciggy/fag and smile at his good fortune.
I rather like spiders, although I must admit wariness of some here, two in particular.
When I was living up on the Northern Beaches we were lucky to have quite a few Huntsmans and it never ceased to amaze me how the larger female always devoured the male after he’d mated. I suppose that stops any chance of in breading keeps the strain strong. Perhaps humans should try that. They are somewhat timid and I’d sometimes be fortunate enough to have one sit calmly in the palm of my hand.
For those arachnid lovers who follow your posts heres a link they might enjoy from the Australian Geographic Mag.
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2012/08/australian-spiders-the-10-most-dangerous/
Many thanks, Brian. You might like this one: https://derrickjknight.com/2013/10/07/anansi/ I hope you are well.
Thanks Derrick, I have good days and the occasional bad which is to be expected. Thanks Derrick 😀
I’ve always loved doves, they remind me of my grandmother. Great shots, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Jill
I am amazed that the answer to “What does Aaron have in common with a bee?” is identical to the Mad Hatter’s “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” What a small world!
Photos are lovely – especially the sweet pea!
Thanks a lot, Bruce. Good one
Excellent tree lopping job by Aaron. There’ a real Knack to using one those chain-saws.
There is – and he has a sensitive eye. Thanks a lot, Ivor
A delightful day daring death, dragons, doves and double-down Cabernet! Cheers!?
Cheers to you, Rob 🙂
They are all excellent sculptors for livelihood: Aaron, the spider, the bees… Such a philosophical post! Those images have exquisite clarity.
Very many thanks, Uma
Great photos, Derrick! And here’s my answer: a bee and Aaron both make buzzing noises (when one of them has a chain saw).
Brilliant, Ann. Why didn’t I think of that?
You were busy like a bee taking fabulous photos, Derrick. That’s why.
🙂
The delicate spider’s web in the verbena is so wonderful! All beautiful pictures!
Thanks very much, Cheryl
One handed chain-sawing? I’m glad this post had a beautiful, happy ending. Your garden is gorgeous, Derrick. 🙂
Many thanks, Diane
Love that little verbena web.
Thanks very much, Brenda
My favorite photo is the spider web in the verbena. I occasionally come across bees caught in webs or ambushed by crab spiders on flowers here.
Thanks very much, Lavinia. A crab spider sounds nasty.
The verbena with the web and little bee is a stunning shot Derrick. Wonderful photos!
Many thanks, Val
Lovely pics as usual. I liked using my branches of the cut-off pine trees as an additional log to the fire. They have a tendency to douse the fire but smell good despite the smoke.
Thanks very much, Geetha. We dry our logs for a year before using them
Tom Sawyer is a softy, using that nice comfortable ladder. I operate mine perched on branches — but I do try and avoid standing on the one I’m cutting.
Love the delicate web.
Many thanks, Leslie
The photos of Aaron on the ladder reminded me how happy I am our youngest son stopped doing tree work. He nearly delighted in terrifying me with pictures of himself 60 feet up in a tree with a chainsaw in his hand.
Scary, indeed. Thanks a lot, Elizabeth