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

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23 March 2014

Things on the move.....again!

Mr. Robin in full voice!

Having done the pond, we then moved to all the Michaelmas daisies (Asters) and Golden Rod (Solidago) which all needed dividing up and moving.  I had this idea that an avenue of Michaelmas daisies either side of the path to Kay's arbour might look rather nice. These are a good (but unknown) variety with a good strong colour which never flop or succumb to the dreaded rust. Chris thought so too but pointed out that an Acer Shirasawanum was in the wrong place.  He was, of course right.  

Moving the Shirasawanum
It was there when we put in the path and was just too close.  I had been sneakily pruning branches that encroached too far across the path or in front of the arbour in the belief that it couldn't be moved as its roots would have grown underneath the path itself and, in any case, was just too big.  Chris however had other ideas and started digging, and digging, and digging and...... digging!  Eventually he freed the root ball which was big and, with wet soil, weighed an absolute ton!  It now sits on the opposing side and a sensible distance from the path and the arbour.  When moving the Golden Rod, we found that it had been invaded by bindweed in a BIG way.  Rather than risk further contamination of such an invasive and pernicious weed, we ditched the lot for burning.  With all the digging and removals going on, the path got very muddy and will need a better clean up and additional gravel adding at some point.  Throughout all this activity, we were joined by a robin who sat just a few feet away in the Wild Service Tree (Sorbus Torminalis) singing at the top of his voice!  Maybe I should just add that all this work was planned for the autumn but the world's wettest weather postponed such plans!

(Muddy) Michaelmas Daisy Avenue!

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