Strim, stone, till

Wee froggie while strimming. Pressed him or herself to the ground in hopes I’d overlook.

A full day (see extras). Although baffled as to what to ‘do’ with the field it was fun doing it. I’ve marked out a small ‘experimental area’. Fascinating to see the different plants competing for space light and life. The wild boar are taking a hand. I pondered the whole (!) rewilding debate while thinking of interactions of plants, boar, wolves and humans over huge stretches of evolutionary time.

When you see the depredations of the boar it makes you realise how tenacious the plants are, even and especially the creeping buttercup that loves the damp places most attractive to the foraging boar.

Watched the field pansies in their obeasance to the sun, turning their tiny beautiful heads to her shifting rays.

Shifted stones, burnt off the last remains of fire upon fire and then rotavated the deep dark soil of the top terrace next to the barn.

Suddenly all the dreadful cold wet weather seemed a mere passing impediment. There’s a greenhouse full of fretful plants to set out in the Tuscan sun. But still cool at night so hanging fire.

At the end of the day I felt tired, deserved my cup or two of wine. But the project felt back on track and my chin higher than through these last rather disconsolate weeks.