Notes from a Cottage Garden

Idon’t like having trees cut down but there were two trees in my garden that were causing problems with their roots and excessive growth. We took the advice of tree surgeons who said that total removal was the best option. However, after two different companies let us down by failing to turn up, my husband said he was going to fell them himself. I expressly forbade him such foolhardy behaviour but when I returned from shopping one day the trees were down and fortunately my husband was still upright. He was very pleased with himself but it was an extremely reckless thing to do on his own, and with only limited protection.

Seeing the garden without the trees was like being introduced to a stranger and indeed one I wasn’t sure I was going to like. But gradually I’ve got to know this changed landscape and can see the advantages it’s given to other plants in the garden. So I have almost a fresh canvas to work with this year — one with less shady areas and flower beds that hopefully will flourish better due to lack of competition from tree roots.