digging a hole

As part of D's Christmas present, I bought him 8 small saplings from Alba Trees, near Edinburgh. They arrived when the ground was too frozen to dig, but we were told that as long as the roots were kept damp, and the saplings kept cool, they would be ok for a while.

Yesterday D dug holes in the wood for the four silver birches, and today we walked round the garden looking for suitable sites for the four rowan trees. There are many traditions associated with the rowan, which is believed to be protective. They are often planted at the entrances to a dwelling. Here D is digging a hole for one by our front gate, between the burn and the peace pole.

I tried to  get Jess in the photo but she was too busy playing in the burn :-)