<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-16071" src="https://www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Feed-Store-001-Wm2.jpg" alt="Feed Store 001 Wm[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"][2]" width="1280" height="853" /> Mike's been back to the reclamation yard again. He was after a couple more of those old pine boards to make architrave for around the door. But whilst he was there he spotted something else.. No, not the Russian tank.. ..at least I hope not. It isn't parked in the drive yet so I think we're OK. Although for a few weeks now we've been after a metal container in which to store the bird feed. The wretched mice have chewed through the heavy duty plastic bin we used to use and deposited the contents all over the outhouse floor. Timing couldn't have been better.. String or ribbons would once have been tied around those little loops alongside the slot and around the lid and then a seal applied to prevent tampering.. Two old ballot boxes! That should do it. It gives rise to an interesting thought though. I wonder what mice would vote for, if they could? [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

[fusion_builder_container admin_label="" hundred_percent="yes" hundred_percent_height="no" hundred_percent_height_scroll="no" hundred_percent_height_center_content="yes" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="https://www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Iris-foetidissima-001-Cw.jpeg" background_position="left center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="fixed" enable_mobile="no" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="100px" padding_left=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="left top" undefined="" background_repeat="no-repeat" border_size="0" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" padding_top="600px" padding_right="0px" padding_bottom="0px" padding_left="0px" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_fontawesome icon="fa-angle-down" size="40px" flip="" rotate="" spin="no" alignment="center" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" circle="no" iconcolor="" circlecolor="" circlebordercolor="" animation_type="" animation_direction="down" animation_speed="0.1" animation_offset="" /][fusion_separator style_type="none" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" sep_color="" top_margin="" bottom_margin="50px" border_size="" icon="" icon_circle="" icon_circle_color="" width="" alignment="center" /][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container admin_label="" hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" enable_mobile="no" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="50px" padding_left=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="left top" undefined="" background_repeat="no-repeat" border_size="0" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_title margin_top="100px" margin_bottom="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" size="2" content_align="center" style_type="none" sep_color=""] Oh, The Irony.. [/fusion_title][fusion_separator style_type="single solid" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" sep_color="#8bc34a" top_margin="0px" bottom_margin="20px" border_size="2" icon="" icon_circle="" icon_circle_color="" width="30px" alignment="center" /][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" overlay_color="" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" padding_top="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" padding_right=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" center_content="no" last="no" min_height="" hover_type="none" link=""][fusion_text] Mike is a cautious sort. In his workshop (shed) he has a first aid kit. It came from a car we had a while back which, mysteriously, came supplied with two. Most of the time the box sits quietly on a shelf above the door. But as I was out watering in the greenhouse yesterday afternoon there came an enormous crash. Then a dull thud. And then a yowl. It turns out that a gust of wind had caught the shed door and slammed it shut. The consequent shaking of the structure was sufficient to dislodge the first aid kit.. which then fell and hit Mike squarely on the head. In other news... The weather has been shite. Everywhere we look now there are leaves. Albeit some quite pretty ones, or would be if they were poised elegantly on the trees rather than forming a soggy mess on the ground. The difference over the last 24 hours has been quite incredible. We have almost lost the steps up to the garage.. And this is only a fraction of what is yet to come. Apparently there's another remnant hurricane on the way. It may be worth waiting a day or two to start clearing, but there's no harm in getting the leaf blower out to see if the mice have managed to sabotage it. Again. Iris foetidissima Over the last few weeks Mike has made significant inroads into 'The Heap': Same view from August: He has found rocks and, most recently, a load of broken up tarmac hidden beneath the soil. When we get to the end there'll be a ceremonial slashing back of the 'hedge' behind it to about a third of the current height. It should be possible to look down over the river from there. And finally.. I thought I needed a treat. The pot ghetto has expanded again. Just when I'd almost cleared it. But RHS Rosemoor were holding a plant sale. 50% off. And there was a members' preview evening. What's a gardening girl to do? From left to right: Geum 'Totally Tangerine' (yes, another one), Hydrangea arborescens 'Invincible Spirit', Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinstern', Viburnum carlesii 'Diana', Salvia x jamensis 'Pluenn' and David Austin Rose 'The Lark Ascending'. Thing is, will I be able to get them all planted before this sunken area completely fills up with leaves? [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

[fusion_builder_container admin_label="" hundred_percent="yes" hundred_percent_height="no" hundred_percent_height_scroll="no" hundred_percent_height_center_content="yes" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="https://www.rustyduck.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Bulb-Cages-001-Cw.jpeg" background_position="left bottom" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="fixed" enable_mobile="no" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="100px" padding_left=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="left top" undefined="" background_repeat="no-repeat" border_size="0" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" padding_top="600px" padding_right="0px" padding_bottom="0px" padding_left="0px" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_fontawesome icon="fa-angle-down" size="40px" flip="" rotate="" spin="no" alignment="center" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" circle="no" iconcolor="" circlecolor="" circlebordercolor="" animation_type="" animation_direction="down" animation_speed="0.1" animation_offset="" /][fusion_separator style_type="none" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" sep_color="" top_margin="" bottom_margin="50px" border_size="" icon="" icon_circle="" icon_circle_color="" width="" alignment="center" /][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container admin_label="" hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" enable_mobile="no" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="50px" padding_left=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="left top" undefined="" background_repeat="no-repeat" border_size="0" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_title margin_top="100px" margin_bottom="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" size="2" content_align="center" style_type="none" sep_color=""] A Cunning Plan [/fusion_title][fusion_separator style_type="single solid" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" sep_color="#8bc34a" top_margin="0px" bottom_margin="20px" border_size="2" icon="" icon_circle="" icon_circle_color="" width="30px" alignment="center" /][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" overlay_color="" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" padding_top="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" padding_right=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" center_content="no" last="no" min_height="" hover_type="none" link=""][fusion_text] It's bulb planting time. As regular readers will recall, I've had little success with bulbs to date. Every single one that I've planted since we've been here has been eaten by mice. And for me that's rather a shame, for a garden bereft of spring bulbs is a sorry thing indeed. The tally of mice having scuttled the wrong way around the back of terrace bed now stands at 42 and yet still the damage goes on. Over the summer all of my new acquisitions and everything I've moved has been undermined. Sometimes I can just push back a rootball and the surrounding soil and all will be well. But bulbs and tubers are invariably consumed. My theory is that rodents are attracted by the newly disturbed soil. Hence the cunning plan. I sunk a test wire mesh cage back in Spring and so far it does seem to have gone undisturbed. Workshop production has been stepped up. Mike's latest design. The AW2015 version achieves a level of sophistication again. It sports a strengthened upper edge and even a lid. The plan is to bury the bulbs inside the cage and then, just under the soil surface, attach the lid. I can bend the little prongs under the top edge of the cage itself to make sure that it stays on tight, protecting the bulbs on all sides until they start to grow. And then in Spring we can carefully remove the lids with minimal disturbance to the soil. Could it work? Might I even have bulbs blooming in the garden next year? Just call me Baldrick. [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]