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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10 May 2015

Garden Feature to Remember VE Day!

Sculpting mortar!
We had always fancied using up all the left over and spare bits of stone to build a cairn but somehow never found quite the right spot for it or it could never be deemed a priority!!  Then we did find a spot for one and we had the perfect occasion: the 70th anniversary of VE day.  Of course our master builder: Chris Genever was at the helm with his trusty helper not far behind!  We found a piece of slate which Chris cut to size and with one of Al's punches, I inscribed the words 'VE Day MMXV'.  It made a perfect plaque to build in on the front.


View from the cairn
Inside and, in an empty wine bottle (hic!), we placed a piece of paper in a sealed plastic bag describing the occasion, date and naming the 2 builders.  We persevered despite the increasing rain and to protect it overnight, a plastic bin liner was rather unceremoniously placed over it until the following day when I gouged, rubbed and sculpted much of the crumbly and drying mortar so as to expose each individual stone.  Now, given that on one side and much too close for comfort is a vicious rose backed up by a thorny berberis, this was quite the most uncomfortable activity!

And where is this being built?  Well, about two thirds of the way along the service path - the idea being that it forms a focal point at the end of a straight and narrow woodchip path with a mixed native hedge on one side and a line of shrubs on the other.

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