Recycling

Back to the warm days, it seems. Did some gardening this morning, trimming back a number of shrubs which had been damaged during the winter and removing the old fronds from the tree fern which were dried and brown.

This reminded me of another tree fern, a dead one in fact. Some years ago I noticed a dead tree fern in a friend's garden - it hadn't produced any fronds for years so was obviously dead and I was allowed to take it. I had the idea of growing some completely different fern in the top and confusing the next specialist who came by! Fortunately I didn't do this but thought it would make a good host for a hardy bromeliad of which I had several - Billbergia nutans, a native of various parts of South America, growing as an epiphyte on trees. I hollowed out the tree fern top and planted the Billbergia in it. I noticed recently that it has a flower bud - it would be great to see it flower! So even tree fern trunks can be recycled!

Went down to the Walled Garden at Glencruitten this afternoon to plant more peas and runner beans, plants which I've had growing here for a while. I tied up all the poor old peas that were flopping on the ground and hope that everything will do better now that we've had some rain. I gave everything a really good water - the tubs there are filled up again; apparently the Fire Brigade does that for them! But rather too hot today - no protection from the sun there, so I was glad to get home!