Although the skies became overcast by mid morning, the day remained largely dry.
Martin began on today’s visit by tackling the overgrown and leaning pittosporum. The first two of these pictures show the tree tilted by the recent storms; the last, Martin’s trimmed result.
Leaving him in peace for a while, I wandered around and photographed tête-a-têtes; snowdrops and mahonia; and ipheions.
In the process I walked into another lurching overgrown shrub dislodged by the gales.
This euonymous would have to go, so
Martin set about it.
Leaving the leafy branches for us to burn, he took away the heavier pieces.
Afterwards he continued his work along the back drive. This involved straightening the edges, weeding the beds, and pruning roses supported by the dead stumps.
Although I was tempted by the aromas of chicken curry cooking all day, this was not for me. Jackie has prepared it for Sunday’s friends and relatives blitz on Elizabeth’s garden, postponed from last week’s which was rained off.
We therefore dined on Mr Chan’s excellent Hordle Chinese Take Away fare with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Douro.
Wow, guys, I’m sorry that the storms have made a mess of your beautiful garden! It was looking so beautiful last summer but summer is almost back, right!
We will recover, John. Thanks very much
It is good to have a competent man of action to hand.
Absolutely. Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal
Martin did a great job, Derrick. You are fortunate to have such a talented handyman.
We are, indeed, Maj. Thank you very much
It’s fortunate you have Martin to do that heavy gardening work. I’m glad you got a delicious dinner anyway. ?
Thanks very much, Merril.
Ahhh.. The aftermath of big winds and too much rain. I’m pleased you and Jackie didn’t try to do the heavy work by yourselves.
Heavy rains here over past 24 hours made it impossible to work in the garden – and attend to sick and injured koalas. Although the koalas seemed to like being soaked, I didn’t. 🙁
Let’s hope you all have seen the last of massive storm fronts for sometime.
Thank you very much Chrissy. I thought of you when we heard that koalas are becoming an endangered species.
It is sad about the koalas. The 2019/20 fires wiped out far too many. As does bulldozers wiping out what trees are left. A horrid state of affairs.
It’s good when you have a good helper.
It really is, Bridget. Thank you very much
Glad to see that there’s not too much damage in the garden. It’ll soon bounce back under the Head Gardener’s very green fingers.
It will, Sheree. Thank you very much
Your comment about Jackie’s curry reminded me of the common childhood occurance of smelling something good from the kitchen and being told, “That’s for company”!
🙂 Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.
YAY for Martin! What a good hard worker! 🙂
OH, my! on the curry! Poor you! ? Kinda’ like when my mom would make her special dessert using expensive Macadamia nuts and us kids being told she was taking it to a Ladies Luncheon at church. Darn! 😉
Ha…she had to hide the macadamia nuts from my 3 brothers…with 8 kids in the house and the having to share food…the boys were always hungry and scrounging around for food.
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Many thanks, Carolyn. X
Thank goodness for Martin! It would’ve been too scary to see you up a ladder with pruners ?
It sure would, Val. Thanks very much
It looks as though Martin’s mark on the garden will be just as significant as Eunice’s – but in a much, much more positive way
Quite so, Emma. Thanks very much
The proposed blitz on Elizabeth’s garden sounds like an excellent idea – with chicken curry thrown in! That is exactly what I need in my garden. While we inevitably mourn the loss of trees (or a part thereof) you might find the spaces opened up will provide more light – and space – for other plants to grow well.
You are right, Anne. Both those shrubs had been allowed to grow into trees. Thanks very much
Martin is worth his weigh in pounds. Chicken curry is wonderful.
So true on both counts, Pat. Thanks very much
The storms just keep coming here. More damage today.
Sorry to read that, Gary. Thanks very much
Good outdoor handy people are a God send, especially if they care.
Absolutely, Catherine. Thanks very much
Those top photos of Martin on the ladder made me nervous. He’s a hard worker. Mr. Chan’s…yummy!
It’s great that Martin knows what he’s doing in cleaning up the stormy mess.
He is a great find, Rosaliene. Thanks very much
I hope you don’t have any more big storms while your garden grows. Great idea to use old trees to support roses.
Thanks very much, JoAnna
All of Martin’s trimming should make your garden come back better than ever, Derrick! I enjoyed your photos of the work being done. When are you having curry again? Save some for me! <3
Thanks very much, Cheryl. Probably on Friday 🙂
Apparently, storms are not kind to overgrowths and anomalous extensions. Perhaps it’s Nature’s way to enforce order and symmetry. Mr Martin seems to have caught on the cue rather well.
You are right about the enforcement of order and symmetry – and about Martin, Uma
Thanks a lot
These massive storms are scary. So sorry it caused you so much damage. American media have the bad habit of calling all these powerful weather events “historic”. It’s one of my pet peeves. Historic – to my mind, at least – is the random odd storm, flood, or whatever. At this point in time, they should be able to recognize a definite pattern as it happens dreadfully often, and all over the world. Patterns are many things, but they are not historic. And yet, we sit on our hands and do nothing. Drives me crazy!!
Quite so, Anna. And now we have another awful event to take our minds off it.
Amen to that. I’ll be checking the news often today to see how/if the international community manage to come together with an effective response to the errant, napoleonic tendencies of Putin.
Thank goodness you have Martin to help you clean up after the storm. Hope the weather is good on Sunday for the garden party.
Thank you very much, Laurie. Martin has arrived at just the right time for us
Martin is certainly a busy bee, cleaning up after the storms .. the aromas of the chicken curry would be too tempting for me Derrick
Cheers, Ivor
Martin is a great help to help you to clear all the debris!
Thanks very much, Aletta. He is invaluable
?
We lost a branch in the storms. It takes a lot longer to cut it up to burn in a stove than it did to fall off!
I’ll bet, John. Thanks very much
I can see the work has begun to restore the garden to its full splendor for Spring!
Thank you very much, GP
I’ve heard about Eunice ? I’m glad the garden still looks good ?
We have been lucky, Ribana. Thank you very much
I’m glad you’re still having support with your gardening and storm clearing tasks.
Wonderful news about the forthcoming team-handed efforts on Elizabeth’s garden.
Thank you very much, Sue
Your poor garden has had so much damage during the past few years. Jackie gets it looking just right and then another storm comes along. Martin looks a real professional and I am sure you aren’t regretting asking him to work for you.
Quite some work. I am glad you got good help. Has Martin replaced Aaron?
Yes. Martin has arrived as Aaron has disappeared. Which is very fortunate. Thanks very much, Rupali
How has your lovely garden faired, Derrick?
It is really not too bad, Dolly. Thanks very much
Martin is a good worker, and I am glad you and Jackie have his help. I hope Aaron is alright and was not struck down by Covid.
Thanks very much, Lavinia. We, too, hope Aaron is well.
We sure could use Martin’s expert help here! You are blessed to have him with his wonderful strength and skills there to help you put your garden back into tip top shape!
We are indeed. Thanks very much, Jan
The gardens have taken such a pounding. But as your garden is so loved it will look amazing when the flowers truly return.
Thank you very much, Gary