Tag: oak

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Frosty

A few days of bright cold mornings, the Ash trees have lost their leaves but the Oaks and Rowan still have theirs. The end of the paddock is fenced off to stop the animals eating the acorns, although last year was a mast year with a bumper crop so there should be fewer acorns this year. Cut beech branches from the ditch for the donkeys, gave them a piece of blackthorn as well but they preferred the beech. Sawed wood and disturbed a sleepy wasp that still had its sting. A cool, sunny, day with light winds.

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Oak

A cold wind accompanied the squally showers that peppered the day, William and Toby stood out in the hail and carried the stones on their backs for an hour or more before they melted. The vale is filling with water and the spring in laneside is running into the ditch, no time in the paddocks for the sheep or donkeys, just too many puddles. The buds on the lilac are swelling and the elephant garlic shoots are a few inches above the bulb, trying to catch up with the softneck Marco Polo planted a month earlier, they need these cold nights to trigger splitting into cloves.

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Dorset Oak

This lump of oak was destined to be cut into rings but the chainsaw found the task too difficult. It’s found a new vocation as a testament to the visitors who have the inclination to carve the date and their initials in its trunk with the tools provided. Traditionally, guests have written on our toilet wall with interesting and varied contributions that remain, or fade over time, depending on which pen they select. Hopefully the oak will last a lot longer. Flying between the tall trees is the green woodpecker who is squawking louder than ever, he stops and feeds on the ants in the lawn on his way past. A cooler day with strong winds and cloudy sunshine. Pulled carrots and picked tomatoes.

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Seasoned Oak

The oak tree that fell into the paddock had seasoned while still standing so the logs can be burnt this year, moved them all to the side of the garage where they should stay reasonably dry before being stacked outside the boot room just before bringing inside. The larger pieces that won’t fit into the woodburner will be used as tables or supports for bird baths. The silver birch behind the rail is doing ok, it was planted to replace the horse chestnut which has sprouted again so will need to be pruned. Cycled 8 miles on quiet roads near Wimborne, a sunny warm day with a lovely red sunset.

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Fallen Oak

The oak has been removed from the ditch and elements of the trunk arranged as a seating area, that lower corner of the bottom paddock is the warmest and always a place to linger as the hedges offer protection from the strongest winds. Skyward pointing limbs have been shortened and now there is no danger of the remaining pieces rolling over and squashing a sleepy sheep! I’ve started wearing slippers again, the nights are definitely colder although the sun still has warmth. It’s time to fill some buckets with water and leave them in the greenhouse, they’ll warm up nicely during the day and then release their heat slowly overnight which will help maintain an even temperature. Picked a few tomatoes.