The green and rolling countryside of Worcestershire, England, is home to the cider apple orchards which surround the gardens of Pear Tree Cottage. They enjoy a sunny south westerly aspect with sweeping views across to Martley Hillside, Woodbury and Abberley clock tower. The Teme Valley lies just over the hill and, not far away, is the Herefordshire border. Although our climate is temperate, our seasons are often uncertain and always a challenge to a gardener! This began in 2010 & follows the weekly ups and downs of garden work chronicling both successes and failures but, above all, demonstrates the fun enjoyed by three people who regularly garden in all weathers

Translate

25 July 2011

Where have all the flowers gone?

Using the hired power scythe


Well, it was a hiring a power scythe again to cut the meadow grass.  After a major hiccup last week, when the grass just kept jamming in unsharpened blades, HSS came up trumps and delivered another machine.  This time, all was perfect. The air is now  heavy with the delicious scent of newly mown hay as it dries in warm summer sunshine.

The end of the day
Using a much more familiar tool!


Having turned the hay and also turned around, I couldn't resist this shot of far distant evening shadows on a corn field beneath Woodbury Hill!

View from our meadow


Three days of sunshine, a light breeze and much turning meant that the loose hay could be lugged. There were  3 full loads and loading high loads of  loose hay in a trailer without thriples was a bit of a test.  Well at least I didn't lose any of it on the slope!

Mini hay lugging
One mown meadow


There will be more than enough for nest boxes for the girls. Some will make garden kneelers. The bulk will go to Ash and Jan's Texels.  (A little bird said they might be showing at Burwarton next month!!)  At the moment the garage looks more like a hay loft!  No room for Mellings or Randolph.  I figure that the 16 x 8 yard meadow has yielded the equivalent of about 3 small bales.  I wonder what the experts would say?  

Now I have to remember what this little patch looked like back in the spring when it was a mass of Cowslips and Moon Daisies.  Oh well. There's always next year!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)