Autumn is now upon us and in theory, garden growth slows to a crawl as it awaits the arrival of spring and summer.This year however, tree and shrub growth have made access to the back and side yards quite a challenge.
Free access to our back yard is vital as we often park our vehicles there for routine maintenance and general cleaning.
Last week brought the access issue to a head as our Isuzu 4WD needed a total clean out and wash. Without scratching it to bits, I couldn’t get it anywhere near our cleaning spot around the back.
The answer to the problem was obvious. Out with the bush saw and the secateurs and remove the offending foliage and branches.
Little did I realise how much work that entailed. The foliage was so dense on some trees that branches were hanging quite low. That required me to reluctantly climb a ladder to enable the limbs to be cut off near the trunk. I know people my age should refrain from climbing ladders but you know what blokes are like, ‘She’ll be right mate,’ is our mantra. Fortunately for me, this time, ‘she’ was right and no disaster ensued.
Gradually the access became clear and by the time the job was completed, two great heaps of greenery stood out the front waiting for me to get them to the Council’s green waste tip.
This morning I discovered a family of Black and White Fantails that we all call Willy Wagtails have moved into the piles. That means I can’t get to the waste tip until these delightful, tiny, active birds move on to somewhere else in the yard.
I should have photographed the access route before I started lopping but forgot to do so.
At least I remembered to photograph the end result and here are three examples taken this morning before the return of the heavy rain.
Later today, weather permitting, I’ll whack a telephoto lens on the camera and try and get some really sharp images of the Willy Wagtails as they flit about the greenery.
Hoo roo for now
CREAKINGBONES 
Looks like you have a much bigger yard than I to deal with 🙂
It’s a shade over 4,000 square meters. Takes me about one and a half hours on the ride on to do the grass, then more time with the whipper snipper on the edges and around the trees( about 50 or so). Then more time with an edger around the drive ways, then more time raking up leaves, trimming the hedges and then off to the tip with the green waste. It was fine seventeen years ago but I can tell you Greg, now I’m old and crotchety it’s not the fun it used to be.
Our place reflects the fact that we do not possess green thumbs. The yards of all our neighbours seem to have a total manicure and make over every five minutes or so. No wonder they think we are hill billys.