A romantic Jan. afternoon with the shepel
Finishing the planting of the raspberries after the thaw:
Last year's rasps also needed to be pruned right down to the ground. This year a cutting disk was attached to the strimmer and I got through it in no time compared to previous years when I'd cut each cane by hand.
Before
After
The canes burn up something lovely
Now re. that budding: I know there's some story about woman coming from Adam's rib or whatever but if I were to chop off my finger and stick it in the ground I don't fancy the chances of a son and heir springing forth a few weeks later. I am still staggered by the ability of currant bushes to reproduce themselves in this way.
These shoots were snipped off their mother plants and pressed into the hard earth barely 2 months ago and have had to endure their matting being repeatedly blown off, severe frosts, very little rain and yet regard the life force of these delicates!
And at closer quarters: the fine order of the buds burst into leaf, progressing from top down. This is the moment for me, whatever happens next feels almost unimportant....I'll keep you posted however!
