Hacking back the gunnera

Lashing rain this morning. I spent the morning tidying up the conservatory which, since the weather has got colder, is now colonised by the cats rather than humans. A very unpleasant offering has remained under the table since saturday - a dismembered rat. I optimistically covered it in newspaper hoping someone else would sort it out, or even better, it would simply disappear. No such luck. I had to bite the bullet as it was getting distinctly whiffy. Eeughhh.

It brightened in the afternoon so I went out and hacked back the gunnera. A highly satisfying operation involving a scythe. The gunnera is not frost-hardy so I cut off all the leaves then use them to cover and protect the plant during the winter. I swear some of the leaves are nearly 6ft across! We have four plants, two big and two massive, all now nicely tucked up for the winter.

Bank holiday here and nothing too spooky going on yet. Oiche shahmna!