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Lady Malarkey, Bramble Wrangler

 

See that pile of brambles running up the left hand side of the photo? That pile of brambles was, five hours previously, growing INSIDE that lovely pathway right next to the fence that has now been exposed because (trumpet fanfare) Lady Malarkey the Bramble Wranglet (c’est moi!) has done battle with them because she was bloomin’ well fed up with them growing like triffids over the fence and encroaching on her garden. 

Yesterday, in glorious sunshine and resplendent in her new teal dungarees and yellow pruning gauntlets, and armed with her lovely secateurs that were an excellent birthday gift from Malarkey the Younger Heather, Lady Malarkey set about The Battle of Bramble 2022, and emerged triumphant a few hours later. Tired and a bit achey, but triumphant! Here are more photos of the up the field view and the down the field view…


The operation was conducted by accessing the area via squeezing through the gap between the oil tank and the protective wall that keeps the tank (full of flammable liquid) away from the studio (made from wood). The area was a dense thicket of brambles and was guarded by a barbed wire fence. The area is on a bit of a slope. The area is also full of nettles, just to add a further frisson of danger. The area is about 40 feet long and is boundary to the middle garden where I want to grow lots of flowers, not lots of brambles. Also, the brambles grow very tall and obscure the views of the countryside. Not any more! 

This morning, when I went out to tend to Edith and Sidney, Beau and his FOUR lady pheasants (!), the idiot bantams and to top up the wild bird feeding stations, I felt more than a slight sense of smugness about what a jolly good battle was fought and won by me. And talking of idiot bantams, here is Mollie, sitting on her six eggs in the middle of a goat willow tree…


Getting her off there will be another battle later today. 






Comments

Anonymous said…
That’s fantastic! Well done! This is where the covid protective gear might have come in handy
KJ
27 March 2022 at 17:02
Anonymous said…
I can join you (and sympathise) with the bramble wrangling ache. Tomorrow we have two five foot high (and wide) phormium to shift. Oh, I’m looking forward to it already. Why do we do it, eh?
Glad to hear that Edith has recovered.
Mrs Duck (denim dungarees)
27 March 2022 at 21:00
Denise said…
KJ, I’m afraid that covid protection was never a part of my wardrobe. Dungarees and gauntlets will do me just fine!! Although the experience has made me think I need to sort out more suitable gardening footwear. Something with grippy toes maybe…🤔

Good luck with the shrub shifting, Mrs Duck! I think we do it for the immense sense of satisfaction afterwards. That long run of shifted brambles continues to make me smile! (Teal corduroy dungarees.)
28 March 2022 at 07:58
Anonymous said…
I know 😉I was thinking of those plastic face shields. I’m sure they will be on sale soon.
KJ
28 March 2022 at 17:35
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