Sunday 2nd May 2021, 2.40pm (day 3,538)
May is here. The dandelions are happily engaged in their task of creating further dandelions. And that’s what life is all about, don’t you think.
Dandelion
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Tag Archives: garden
The latest robin
Saturday 24th April 2021, 2.10pm (day 3,530)
Three minutes after I had dug over the garden a little and this robin perches not six feet from me and virtually demands that I capture its close-ups. Seeing as this is taken in pretty much the same spot as the picture of the last robin to grace this blog, only 22 days ago, it might be the same one — either way, it is the latest example of how this particular species really has learned to not be in the least bit bothered about us humans. Perhaps it, too, is slightly annoyed by the presence of the white plastic tie, but what the hell.
Eager robin
Friday 2nd April 2021, 3.05pm (day 3,508)
Robins succeed because they’ve commandeered the ecological niche entitled ‘we really don’t give a shit about those human creatures’. We turned over a pile of compost on the allotment and this fearless chap was picking it over before we’d moved five feet back. He got the best pickings — woodlice, centipedes, worms — everything else was just in his wake. Birds! Ignore the humans! Be the robin! You’ll not regret it.
Catkins
Monday 22nd February 2021, 1.45pm (day 3,469)
The sun was definitely out this afternoon. Spring feels like it’s in the post, and once it does break out in full I doubt many people will be staying at home, whatever the powers say. I think it is a birch tree at the bottom of the garden that’s broken out this rash of catkins since I was last up there.
Apple tree, in hibernation
Sunday 10th January 2021, 11.15am (day 3,426)
We might as well all hibernate, mightn’t we. The apple tree needed pruning, though, and deepest winter is the time to do it, according to those who know. The shot reflects the greyness of the day and the other clouds, the ones that currently separate us from each other. I feel like I’m on an extended break from the rest of humanity.
Well, he’s happy
Monday 21st December 2020, 1.50pm (day 3,406)
Having taken up the habitat of occasionally walking up and down the valley of the Hebden Water, simply to keep my spirits and step count up, on several occasions recently I have passed this little guy in one of the allotments along the riverside and taken a shot. Today he can make the blog. This is the kind of carefree attitude it would be nice to affect at the present time. What does he know of ministerial incompetence, lockdown loving and general paranoia. Even on midwinter’s day.
Hammock smile
Sunday 18th October 2020, 2.00pm (day 3,342)
I don’t get to spend enough time in hammocks. There is something deeply relaxing about this mode of relaxation. A shame the weather is getting colder now and this one — lying outside the houses that stand above our allotment — probably won’t be used much now, until the spring. (Spring 2021 seems even longer away this year than usual, sadly.)
The pumpkin swells
Thursday 1st October 2020, 3.45pm (day 3,325)
The efforts of all those highly transient squash (or possibly pumpkin) flowers earlier in the year have resulted in precisely one pumpkin (or possibly squash) growing in house or garden. And here it is. Whether it will be big enough to carve faces in come the end of this fresh month — we will just have to wait and see…
Sitting out in the rain
Wednesday 30th September 2020, 5.25pm (day 3,324)
A foul, miserable day of weather that matched the general mood. September sun has just about sustained the local pubs, but once it stops being very agreeable to sit outside — as it definitely was today — then they will slowly rot away and die, like most other things that bring fun into our lives, presently.
The tree consultant
Sunday 9th August 2020, 10.15am (day 3,272)
The plum tree seriously needs pruning, and now is apparently the time…. this information being imparted by Peggy, fellow member of the allotment society and knowledgeable in these matters. Expect some documentation of the subsequent surgery, at least, once we get our pruning saw. Yes, this would be a nicer photo without the water butt, but it is what it is.
Being 42 