The robins fly past

Just leaving spring and coming into summer. Consider what a year this is - the start of summer, very often a blue sky and the sun beaming down on us - and then the clouds head in on the wind and the snow arrives ahead. Not what you would expect at this time of year, certainly not what I expect but it's been going on for a day or two now and I'm asking myself how much longer this will go on. Will we actually see summer or will the weather skip by, passing autumn as well and bring in winter before we can blink.

Last year I planted Scots Pine and it was a lovely year but despite all the care and attention they passed away, every single one of them. The Austrian Pine are in this year and really looking good - will they make it, will they survive, will the year-long snow be more natural for them? Hopefully, I'll get the right answer.

And the food for the birds, a small mistake there I here you say. Well, I think that you're right. The sparrows continue to pick at it but that is all they are doing I'm afraid, they pick at it, they play with it and they get bored or hungry and then move on. The robins fly past now, on their way to wherever is more interesting. I'll think about this and do what I can for them.

Perhaps they will stop in passing.

Perhaps Shetland will warm up a little ;))

A month or two ago

A month or two ago, I was asked for a wee snapshot of  one or two of the trees that I have growing in my back garden and believe it or not, I've finally gotten round to doing the job.

Firstly, I took a shot of one of this years trees, an Austrian Pine, tiny but beautiful. There are a good few more but this one will be shown again and again.














Then I took a shot of one of last years Scots Pines, the remaining one, unfortunately.


Unfortunately, I left the picture on the table, went in to make myself a cup of coffee and, would you believe it, it blew off the table as the bin man passed by and all that I was quick enough to do was get a quick snap of the truck it took to carry it up the road.

Just as well that I was out as fast as I was or you would have thought that I had ballsed it right up, eh ;))

Early Gardening

I've just been around the garden and the willows actually have a chance. I pruned them back a bit because the very top of both was a bit iffy but we'll see.

Both of the black hawthorns are a surprise, a real surprise. One of then was just a stick and the other was a dead stick but in a week they've made a good difference and are coming on a treat. I don't know if it's the temperature or the sunlight but they're doing well.

The Austrian Pine are a mess, they are a disaster.The black viola's are going to take over if the pansy's, which are doing quite well, don't beat the pines first. The dead Scot's Pine is doing better than the Austrian ones. There are a couple that might live to tell the tale but.......

At the back of six, as expected!!!

The Austrian Pine arrived at the back of six, as expected. I'd eaten before they arrived so was  ready for action, right on time.

I was pleased with the trees that turned up, nice healthy looking wee things. I certainly hope that they are more successful than the Scots Pine that I planted last year - and then spent the next eight or nine months watching them gasping for breath and keeling over. I never decided whether to cremate them or turn them into their own coffins, they're on the other side of the fence, waiting and turning into peat while I make up my mind.

At the front door are another pair of pine to make up for the pair that lived the longest. I moved them into the back garden a while ago as they were gasping for breath too. One of them has possibly improved a little but you know what always happens, they smile before they die.

Hopefully, the sun will be out, at least for a while tomorrow so that I can take thousand upon thousand of snapshots of tonights work and flood the internet with them so everyone will understand why I no longer charge tu'pence an hour to do the gardening for them as they stretch out in the sun with a great big cocktail in one hand and a cigar that ensures an early, painful death in the other.

RIP Jocky Wilson

If anyone reading this has ever enjoyed playing or watching someone playing darts then you will know Jocky Wilson. Unfortunately, he passed away last night.

He wasn't what would be called an old man, he was only two days into his sixty-second year but he did have problems with his health.

Don't give up Jocky!!!