Basket Willow, Lavender Bags and Ivy the Lamb

It has been cold but sunny, here, in the south east. We made the most of it. We had arranged with Anne to plant a willow bed, with a view to making our own baskets and garden structures. We have been inspired by two books belonging to Anne.

Last year Tim and Anne stayed in a yurt near Northampton and found a willow nursery nearby.

www.willowsnursery.co.uk

Anne ordered 

10 x Salix Purpurea "Eugenii" Green stems

10 x Salix Purpurea "Lambertiana" Lime green stems

10 x Salix Purpurea "Abbeys" Orange/red stems

When they arrived the 10 inch cuttings were much longer. In fact there was enough to cut each one into three so we have only planted a third of each whip.

Here I am loaded up with all we needed.

We had decided on a piece of rough ground across the field just below the shepherd`s hut. It is sheltered by blackthorn. In warm sunshine we set to and clipped the grass accompanied by the latest orphaned lamb, whose nose was right into everything. Her name is Ivy and she was born before Christmas....another case of frisky young rams getting to the sheep at the wrong time.  

(There are more in the field.)

 We spread the ground with weed supressant and planted through by cutting crosses, making holes with a metal spike and heeling in.

Each whip was protected by a tree guard with a cane to stop it blowing away.

My sister, Paula (newly retired) came to help.

 The weed supressant has been secured at the sides by pushing the edges into the soil.

All in all a good morning`s work. 

I have been using my tiny fabric scraps to make even more patchwork lavender bags, embroidered and be-ribboned.

I`m also getting more practise with my new pyrography tool. It`s easier than the old one.

Steve makes the wooden part.

Next we will be needing three new signs for the willow bed.

 

 I have processed another huge pumpkin. Still got two huge ones to go.

All ready for the freezer.

I cut it up into manageable pieces, put it in boiling water for two minutes, 

cooled it and then packed into recycled icecream cartons.

 That`s filled up the freezer again!