Catch 22

One thing about a big garden (small property) with 30+ year old trees is that sometimes trees break and sometimes trees die. We nearly had to take out a second mortgage to remove several trees when we first moved in. Some were overgrown, some were dead and some were just plain ugly (yep - pines.)

From time to time we have needed the services of the tree feller fellas to remove falling trees or ones overgrowing in the wrong place. Just recently we had two in quick succession, one falling into the neighbour's yard and a branch down. When I say branch I mean a BRAAANCH! Unlucky, I guess or it could it possibly have something to do with incredibly soggy soil and incredibly strong winds - hmmmmm - just a guess.

Anyway, Catch 22 - one reason we bought this place is because we love the majestically tall and lush native trees, but we need to chop them down from time to time. (As an aside I almost pull out as many gum and wattle saplings as I do weeds.)

Catch 22 #2 - the tree feller fellas aren't cheap but when they chop down our trees we gain quite a lot of firewood and mulch which cuts down our garden and heating costs.

Catch 22 again - the garden has a growing number of wood piles waiting to be split and stacked. The mulch mound rivals Mt Wellington. They take up valuable space and limits where we can plant new trees.

Catch 22 still - when we mulch around our new plants they thrive and grow really well. One day we might need the tree feller fellas in again - but not for a very long time.

There's no Catch 22 about the pile of firewood. We probably have next winter sorted but it's pretty intensive labour to get huge blocks of tree trunks into fire box size. Still it's Ruprecht's labour so I'm not complaining. Me with a chainsaw or an axe would be an accident waiting to happen. Then - Catch 22 - I wouldn't be around to enjoy my garden or my winter fires.

The garden is so full of life but a necessary part of a garden's journey has to be death - death of plants and death of wildlife. Sometimes life sucks.

Bird update

Mr Black and Ms Brown tried to set up home on the electric cords in the shed again. However, Ruprecht has been very visible and noisy in the shed and they seem to have given up on nest #2.

Stop Press..... no they haven't, Ms Brown has taken up residence! We're going to be parents again.