Coppiced wood makes one neat pile to be used in the wood stove next winter.
The small logs burn very well in the wood stove and give tremendous heat!
The building of the next pile is under-way.
Much of today has been spent cutting back the growth on the stream that carries the water into the ponds.
Che-Mousey-Bear has stayed in the Bog Garden with me as I worked, keeping me entertained… 
as you can see!
The lower pond looked like a Monet painting…
in the soft afternoon light after the storm.
Ethereal…
As I worked silently along the banks of the stream, frogs croaked, mating, swimming and spawning in both ponds.
The spawn was visible…
and floated in big chunks across the water and weeds.
Willow and Dogwood was pruned back and cuttings inserted along the stream banks,
where they will root and keep the earth from being eroded by the ever-increasing rain…this is building resilience and adapting to Climate Change!
Birdsong filled the gardens all afternoon and Coltsfoot made an early show of yellow flowers in the gravel…
near the lower pond.
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Hi Colette, these are so beautiful. Did you notice the lovely figure that looks like it is coming out of the tree on the top of the Monet Pond? It’s arms are raised and it looks like on a cross – very ethereal. Cheers, Jan
I will have a closer look. I often see images in the garden. Many visitors remark on the energy forces here. Blessings X
I’m new to wordpress and no matter how I search for Bealtine cottage, I cannot find your blog there. Can you help please?my new blog is http://www.robertcurris.wordpress.com. I would appreciate a critique, if you have the time.I see you’re having Janaaia Donaldson to visit. Is that soon? i enjoy here chats, she has a lovely easy way of interviewing.Robert Jordan Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2014 01:35:09 +0000 To: robertcurris@hotmail.com
I’d love to have the time to visit other sites and offer a critique, but as a one woman show who should at this point be writing my book…!
The web address is http://www.bealtainecottage.com
Blessings X
I’d love to have the time to visit other sites and offer a critique, but as a one woman show who should at this point be writing my book…!
The web address is http://www.bealtainecottage.com
Blessings X
Always amused by your depictions of cats – how they enjoy watching us work.
More seriously, your way of life is an example of sanity. An inspiration.
Thanks Susan! Blessings X
love your posts so much…. I have a bad case of wood pile envy whenever you post a pic as it always looks so neat. if it was my woodpile I couldn’t spoil it by using it lol! I am always chasing my tail with our wood, I’m never organised enough but I do love it so much. one day I will take a photo of my pathetic excuse for a woodpile and you’ll see what I mean haha! Love and blessings xxx
Oh Margy, you made me laugh! Wood pile envy indeed! Seriously though, as this has to dry out over the course of about a year, it makes sense to build it neat! Blessings XXX
I am definitely envious of your early spring. While we are having a short spell of warmth with rain (southern tier of NY) , the snow holds fast. We are promised another Arctic blast in the coming week. Really good for the knit scarves and mittens and hats I’ve been making. I can’t even get them online for my store! But hopefully your weather is an indicator that we too, will have a spring! Looking at organic herb seed catalogs… You and I are so of like minds Colette. I think if my life could make a change financially I would have a place like yours somewhere in a more temperate zone. Since my accident I don’t seem to weather the severe cold well, but would love the activity of gardening and land maintenance! You are such an inspiration to my mind and soul.
Thanks Betty and blessings for a nice warm Spring to come XXX
I saw another use for coppiced wood the other day. A local cafe has completely lined their walls in discs of coppiced local wood. Very beautiful and with the added bonus of soundproofing! All of that water! Our soil “Poooofs” out from under out shoes as we walk around the property and putting water into the chooks (chickens) bowls results in little clouds of dust rising as the water hits the soil. It is SO dry. This is our last week of summer (official summer that is) but I get the feeling we are in for another couple of months of hot dry weather yet. Love the idea of the dogwood in between the willow as well. Resiliance AND flowers 🙂
That sounds like a great idea, both practical and beautiful. I have seen something like that done in England, with clay cob in-between the wood. Hope the rain comes soon for you XXX Blessings
Thanks Colette, I hope so too! I hope you have a delicious summer that ripens your tomatoes so that they taste like the tomatoes you get in Italy 🙂
Like ccm989 we are in the middle of thunder storms and heavy rain, which isn’t helping all that melting snow go anywhere. My poor back garden is just one big mud pile! However i am determined to push ahead as if Spring is just around the corner and will start seeds in the greenhouse this weekend. Need to get the ‘greens’ going – Broccoli, Kale, Cabbage, Lettuce etc. Want to get as much frozen down for next winter as possible as I ran out this year. My dear contractor friend is going to make me a Root Cellar for storing once the weather allows him. I lost a lot of stuff (Potatoes, Carrots, Onions) to the arctic blasts we had this year (they were stored in my shed, which ha been fine every year but this one). My hope this year is to be able to provide enough to eat through the year AND store up for next winter.
Lyn – Virginia
This is definitely the way to go! Root cellars work well as the frost cannot get to the food stored within. I too am aiming to plant a lot more and store a lot more too. As I type a storm has reared up, driven in from the west laden with rain and hail! Goodness, but this weather is severe!
Blessings X
How wonderful to see the ground and the trees without snow, without that awful cold, wet, wretched stuff covering everything. Here in New Jersey, mountains of snow are piled everywhere. And to make matters stranger, it is now 50 degrees, raining with thunder storms expected this afternoon! Thunder storms in February. Weird!
Strange weather indeed and we need to build as much resilience to this as we can! Be of good heart for Spring is near!
Blessings X
One of the nicest posts you’ve done. Beautiful as I sip coffee on my morning break!
Robert J
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Bless you!