OUTDOORS 14

This was my view from the kitchen window until 2 days ago. My father might have been a professional gardener for most of his life and been able to grow many plants - but - his landscaping skills were not in tune with my own choices.

Planting a giant palm tree outside a window to obliterate the view for example, just does not sit well with me. I could not see the pond properly unless leaving the kitchen and going into the coffee lounge...

The right hand side fence was one main goal of 2017 for me - to plant a hedge along it, consisting of rose bushes from around the yard, yew cuttings and whatever I could find. Beyond the bird bath, next to the poly tunnel might be a better place for the palm tree - and preferably horizontal instead of vertical!

On the third Monday of February, I explained to Liz that I had planned to cut the palm tree down that very day - until spotting a wren collecting nesting material and seemingly staying inside the debris surrounding the tree to build a nest. She persuaded me to go ahead and chop it down, as the nest could not be finished YET...

After our coffees, I could not spot the wren around the tree - so went outside and did so! Luckily the old tree saw in the now collapsing leaky shed still functioned and after 5-10 minutes, I had managed to saw through far enough to topple the tree safely to the ground.

Now, I could see the entire back yard from kitchen or coffee lounge window, without having to look through both! There was also more light for the coffee lounge windowsill plants!