Monday 18 November 2013

all the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey...

Imagine, if you will, a line stretching from the Amazon rainforest (lotta trees – no grass), to the steppes of Russia (lotta grass – no trees). Somewhere on the middle of that line is me standing in an orchard in Cardiff (some trees, some grass), raking up leaves. Grassland is fussy and will only persist if it is regularly grazed either by animals or lawnmowers, (or me with a scythe). Also, if I allow the fallen leaves to lie,they will kill the grass underneath. - not in a vicious hand to hand battle, just with a gentle suffocating sigh.


Now I’m talking about a lot of leaves here, because as well as the fruit trees, the garden is flanked by a stand of mature beeches. Last year I grumpily raked them up, wheel-barrowed them out through the gate and dumped them back underneath the trees.
It was a gesture designed to say ‘There you go – you can have them back!’ 
A bit like throwing your neighbour’s cat poo back over the fence...
( - not that I would ever do that). 

I’m not sure if the trees noticed. 

Then, when February rolled round and it came time to build the hotbed, a bit of research in Beeton’s Book of Garden Managementsuggested that beech leaves would be the perfect filling ingredient for those finding themselves a little short of fresh horse manure. So back out through the gate I went, and sheepishly barrowed in as many as I could be bothered to rake up.

Again, to their credit, the trees ignored me
(I told you they were mature).


So this year I’m trying to turn my frown upside down’ (barf), and view the deluge of leaves as the delivery that I ordered for February. I’m raking them into holding piles between the compost heaps, where they’ll gradually reduce in volume till I’m ready to use them to build the hotbed. After nearly a week off work with a bad back, it feels good to be out and about doing something so satisfyingly seasonal.


8 comments:

  1. Good luck with hauling all your beech leaves around! At least they do compost down, our oak leaves stay resolutely woody for years!!! xx

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    1. Went back today and it looked like I hadn't done anything - lots more to rake up!

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  2. Excellent bit of positive reframing there! Beautiful photos of your garden and those very mature trees! And it's good to know your back has recovered. xxxx

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    1. I'm trying to think of mostly standy uppy jobs to get on with - so I might start doing a bit of orchard pruning this week.

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  3. What a job friend! Your humor always puts a smile on my face!!! We have a bit to do with the leaves as well...and it is coooooold here! Nothing like waiting till the last minute! Your garden is breath taking! Are you kidding?!?! What is that structure in the background of your second photo?? I wasn't sure if that was your home or a neighbor's home. So much beauty friend! And bravo to you for using those leaves even if the trees were ignoring you!!! So glad to hear your back is better as well!

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    1. It's where I work - I look after the cottage gardens at an open air museum just outside Cardiff. Spectacular huh? The house in the background is a farmhouse from mid Wales circa 1720, but we go from the Tudors right through to post WW2 emergency housing. The official line is not to identify the museum on personal blogs (but if you google 'open air museum Cardiff' - that's us). My own garden is a (blessedly small) town garden designed for loafing around with a cup of tea (or a small cocktail).

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  4. I have to say the thing I like most about seasonal change is something different to do. Ie raking in autumn, pruning in winter, Chopping things back madly and weeding in spring (actually I lie about the weeding it is rubbish but they are very active at this time so I figured it was worth the mention) and mowing and watering in summer.

    Of course at the end of each season I am quite feed up of the repetitive tasks and enjoy the change. Of course Sydney we have more evergreens and less deciduous plants that need raking up. Hope the raking didn't last too long. And it provides great photo opportunities

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    1. It's all bare branches round here now. Haven't had much proper cold yet - I love the turning of the seasons too. Have a lovely summery Christmas in Sydney - pop to the beach for me . Bernice xx

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