EPISODE 83 A TALE OF TWO GARDENS IN THE PANDEMIC YEAR 2020
COVID 19: THE PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED THE WORLD…BUT WE REMAIN LUCKY AND ALONE
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING IN OUR ISOLATION? WELL WE HAVE BEEN GARDEINING AND
FEEL VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO DO SO MARJORIE IS THE BETTER GARDENER AS YOU WILL
NO DOUBT NOTICE. MY JOB IS TO FIGHT OFF THE WEEDS. ONE PICTURE SHOWS HOW OUR
WEEDS CAN OUT COMPETE OUR CORN…SEE IF YOU CAN FIND IT. WOODY HAS BEEN
INCLUDED JUST FOR FUN.
1) OUR COUNTRY GARDEN…JULY 15, 2020
. USING PLASTIC CONTAINERS TO TRY AND DISCOURAGE THE WEEDS…SO FAR
ALL WE HAVE PRODUCED IS ONE ZUCCHINI.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WEEDS OUT COMPETE THE CORN AND
PUMPKIN PATCH. WEEDS USUALLY WIN. LATER IN THE FALL WE WILL SEE
IF ANY PUMPKINS SURVIVED. WHY NOT GET IN THERE AND WEED THE PATCH?
MY EXCUSE IS SIMPLE…MAYBE THERE ARE BLACK LEGGD TICKS JUST WAITING
FOR MY BARE LEGS. AN EXCUSE.
THE MILKWEED PLANTS ARE NOW SIX FEET HIGH AND HAVE ATTRACTED TWO MONARCH BUTTERFLIES. I HOPE THEY ARE
HUSBAND AND WIFE AND HAVE LEFT THEIR PROGENY TO WOLF DOWN THE MILKWEED.
WE HAVE FOUR LARGE PONDS ON MY GRANDFATHER’S FROMER FARM. HE DRAINED THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE DONE THE REVERSE. THANKS TO COVID19 WE HAVE CLEARED SOME OF THE LAND AROUND
ONE OF OUR PONDS THAT HAS BEEN LOST TO SIGHT FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES. WHEN IT WAS EXCAVATED
OVER 20 YEARS AGO, THE HUGE EXCAVATING MACHINE HIT QUICK SAND AND SLOWLY SANK. TO RESCUE
THE EXCAVATOR WAS AN IMMENSE TASK. IMAGINE WHAT THIS POND WOULD LOOK LIKE WITH THE WRECK
OF AN EXCAVATOR IN THE MIDDLE…PERHAPS JUST THE NECK REVEALED.
I INCLUDED ANGUS MCECHERN’S OLD HAY LOADER TO HELP YOU VISUALIZE WHAT THIS LAND WAS LIKE WHEN
IT WAS A FIELD OF TIMOTHY HAY AND ERIC, RONNIE, ANGUS AND I STOOD ON THE HAY WAGON WHILE THE LOOSE
HAY TUMBLED ONTO US AS WE TRIED TO STOW IT. ANGUS PULLED OUR CARAVAN … TRACTOR, HAY WAGON, HAY LOADER …
OVER BESIDE THE WILD CHOKECHERRIES FOR US TO EAT IF WE GRABBED THEM FAST.
ALAN SKEOCH
JULY 15, 2020
A FEW YEARS AGO I USED THIS OPEN SPACE TO BURN WOODEN TRASH.
MARJORIE MADE ME CONVERT THE SPACE TO GRASS. I AM NOT SURE
THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA BUT DID IT ANYWAY. YOU BE THE JUDGE.
2) OUR CITY GARDEN … PLANTED AND NURSED BY MARJORIE JULY 25, 2020
ALAN SKEOCH’
JULY 15, 2020
P>S> I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN IRELAND…MORE EPISODES COMING NOW THAT
DAN DWAN HAS REACHED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO TOUCH BASE WITH ME.
BARNEY DWAN IS ALIVE AND WELL…REMEMBER HIM? MY RIGHT HAND MAN
IN 1960 WHO I CALLED BANDY BECAUSE OF THE IRISH ACCENT.
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