Horse manure

The sun returned today so it was down with the stripper and up with the fork as I headed back to my garden duties. After talking to mum, of course.

It was quite a long day in the garden, actually. I removed the ripped plastic greenhouse thing which was firmly embedded in weeds – not a pleasant job – so I could weed and prepare the last bit of the hot border.

While I toiled, I listened to a programme on Radio 4 in which they were tagging cuckoos. Apparently they are disappearing and no-one knows why. We regularly hear them in the park but I’m pretty sure I’ve not heard one this year. Anyway, earlier, on Breakfast, they had a piece about the same thing. Showing how they trap the birds, tag them and fit a small locator on their back so they can track them.

While this was clearly very interesting, it proved irresistible to Carmen who watched the entire piece, glued to the screen. She often watches when animals are on but this was different. She watched the whole thing even when the humans were talking. As soon as it finished, she turned away and went back to sleep. Who knew she was interested in cuckoos.

Meanwhile back in the border, I dug out weeds by the barrow full, ending up with a lovely bed of freshly turned earth. It was then time to sow some borage and sorrell which I did, liberally.

I stood back and admired my work which both poodles decided to walk all over. It felt like lunch to me so, after a chat with Mirinda (who was working from home today) I had a quick lunch before heading up to the park.

I took some video, mainly around the Avenue of Trees. The song is called Meadowlark by a folk band called Fleet Foxes.

After our walk I once more attacked the hot border, sprinkling horse manure all over it and then turning it thoroughly. It should now be ready for planting.

I also spread some salvia seeds in the orange crate bed and hung two small cream pots (that’s colour not pots for holding cream) on the brick wall. I think they have trailing lobelia in them.

So, all in all, a pretty full on day.