Hold everything! I seem to have gotten on the wrong boat. This is definitely not the slow boat to China... the one I'm on is going way to fast... life is whizzing by.
As during my first internship in England, I never got past February in my blogging last year either. So I intended to document the events of March 2014 during this past month of March.
Now I've missed the whole month-so will give you one big blog post- mostly in pictures.
Here goes... these are the highlights of the very busy month of March last year (2014)
I spent my birthday weekend at Tina's folks nr Cambridge. We went into town a couple times.
First, to go to Cambridge University Botanic Garden (
http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Home.aspx ). Even in the beginning of March things are blooming and beautiful. I was one happy camper. Just a sampling...
and... beautiful willow!!
we had lunch at a riverside restaurant, right next to where the punting boats dock. That's one thing on my list for 'next time' -have a ride along the river in a punting boat. After lunch we had a walk about Cambridge until the dimming of the day. Oh I had fun. The Architecture!
We visited the famous Eagle Pub!
one of the old haunts of Stephen Hawking (and others)--anybody see therecent movie "The Theory of Everything"? Remember the bridge where Jane and Stephen had their first dance (in the movie)? I walked across that lovely bridge on my own two feet!
Next day we went back to town to the Fitzwilliam Museum.
Monet...
Cezanne...
and of course, actual, real armor--for man and beast. Shiny and impressive. Think about how much weight the poor horses were required to lug around during battle!
March 6-we replanted a section of hedge on a property adjacent to Bore Place
JW introduces us to the gorgeous little hawthorn seedlings-and gives planting instruction.
Last step, pruning.
The guys had lunch-it was an absolutely beautiful day. I opted to mosey along the mile or so back to the cottage. Stopping on the way to buy fresh eggs at the house around the corner. The guys finished lunch, packed up and passed me by on their way back to the shop. The things we remember... right?
The view from the road... see the Land Rover a way over yonder?
March 8 Tina and I had a little dinner party--
carrot salad and a khorma curry with butternut squash and spinach--yum
John did this same fence only 5 years ago and it was still in great shape! But the NT wanted it redone and so... we redid! First removed all the old willow (kept us in kindling at the cottage for a good long while!) and replaced it with luscious, fresh green willow.
also, redid this cool little screen fence that keeps the compost nicely out of view
So, when we did these fences we each took a position. Someone at the start, 1-2 in the middle and someone at the end-this way you weave the same layer all the way along from one end to the next. Keeps things nice and uniform and insures accurate weaving. Normally JW would put me in the first position, because I was a little slower weaver, so, less pressure to keep the rhythm going.
John sent Jake and I over to do this compost screen fence together. And once we got the old willow out Jakie assumed the starting position and I was at the end... and so I was in a frenzy to keep up! But we managed, and both fences turned out beautifully. You can see my head over the top in the pic below.
the finished products...
and look at this awesome 'old-fashioned' bee skep.
March 14. John, Jake, Me and Arthur. Back to the same vineyard in Shoreham (The Mount Vinyard-- see:
http://www.themountvineyard.co.uk/ ) where we harvested pollarded willow during my last internship time. Another glorious day in England, harvesting willow along the River Darent...
Betty!
Arthur--guard dog of the stuff...
Jake riding back to the car park atop the 'pile'... looks like fun except those pesky tree branches in the eye along the way!
March 15. Living willow seats course at Bore Place. I donated my seat to Bore Place, where Marigold, the new head gardener, planted it over by the green house and market garden.
here it is planted and growing like crazy a month or so later!
I did an overnight at the Waller's and went with John the next day (March 16) to teach a living willow structures course at Chelwood Gate?
John actually gave me free reign to teach and help the folks along. Which was awesome of him. You can see that it is sunny by the pics. It was actually very, very warm too-specially by the afternoon.
so, we did a tunnel (on the right) as an entrance to a forest school teaching area. And a bower (left) over an existing permanent bench which faces a large open common area.
March 21st. Pea stick and bean pole delivery day to Chelsea Physic Garden, in London.
See :
http://chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/ John gets a big order from them every year. I didn't get to go last time-so was VERY excited to go this time around. Plus. I had been spending a goodly amount of time in bushy wood bundling peasticks, here and there for a couple months, plus, had helped with the hazel coppicing too, so, felt like my personal time investment was going to be utilized at a world renowned place.
A little blurb from the Chelsea Physic website:
Tucked away beside the Thames, Chelsea Physic Garden is a celebration of the beauty and importance of plants. This walled Garden was founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries for its apprentices to study the medicinal qualities of plants and it became one of the most important centres of botany and plant exchange in the world. Today, as an independent charity the Garden relies on the support of visitors and Friends to help protect and nurture the Garden for future generations.
WE had the truck AND the trailer loaded right up!
London...
anybody see the last couple of James Bond movies? This is the MI6 in Vauxhall...
I am ever amazed at Johns ability to maneuver the land rover anywhere... easy as pie he backed the land rover and the trailer thru the gate-- he had inches to spare.
The CP crew made very short work of the unloading too!
The Garden wasn't actually open yet for the season, and they were in the midst of alot of work, but we got to walk thru (ever so quickly!) before we left. I hoped to go back again after they were officially open, but didn't make it back. Sigh. Next time...
Sir Hans Sloane-purchased the 4 acres estate CP lives on and leased it to the Society for Apothecaries for a whopping 5 pounds a year in perpetuity. That was a service to humanity I am thankful for!
ooooh. a cool garden wall!
March 26. Obelisk/wigwam making workshop at Bore Place. My first one ever! I even got a well done from the 'boss'.
First pics... the Bore Place Magnolias- just before the buds burst.
Obelisk-getting started...
JW, squinting "what are you doing way over there SG?!"
Me, "trying to stay out of the sun!" In fact, the building gave me about 4 feet of shade for a very short time. By the end of the day, I was frying just like the rest of 'em.
Yup. I made that. A thing of beauty and function. Not bad for a days work... Pat myself on the back why don't I?
And to end out the month, March 30, Duncan brought me to the beach... where oh where was that? (It might possibly have been St Margaret's at Cliffe,.. not 100% sure) this is a pic from google images--does it look like the one I took down below? Will let you be the final judge.
I'll fill that in at some point, if and when I find out. Anyway, we got fish and chips then went and sat on the beach to eat. After lunch we wandered around a bit on our own. D explored the cliff areas, I stuck to the sandy parts, having discovered the rocks were SLIPPERY.
Some mighty cool rock formations and distinct layering patterns! Birds (seagulls mostly) living in the holes.
Nothing like an afternoon at the ocean with fish and chips in the fresh salt air. Then home to beans on toast with Country File on the telly to do a body good.
And that, my friends, was March 2014!
love to all- susie
