Once Again

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We're heading towards the end of another year but why is it that once again I never managed to get all my borders dug over and bulbs planted before the gardening season came to an abrupt end? Forever the optimist, I'm still checking the forecast, hoping for a rise in temperature and one or two calm days in anticipation of finishing the job. 

As a consequence of the digging that went on inside and outside the house starting in late 2023, autumn clear-ups have of necessity been neglected for the past two years. The baked clay that resulted from our recent summer of drought and high temperatures resisted all attempts to turn it with a spade, whilst, in the meantime, field mice from the adjoining farmer's land have filled themselves at the expense of my tulip and crocus bulbs.  

Confronted by a depleted floral display when we returned home earlier this year and facing another in the Spring of 2026, I had therefore set myself the task of planting a thousand bulbs. The process has been slowed by an experiment in rodent deterrence, when every hole opened up to receive a bulb has also been gifted a generous helping of chilli powder! In a few months time I'm going to be excited to learn if it's worked in scaring those pesky creatures and also the impact on the bulbs themselves. Will my tulips have a hot pepper fragrance or perhaps a fiery orange  shade?

I've always maintained that retirement is a time for challenge, new experiences and experimentation that you don't have to travel to indulge in. There's also that satisfaction of getting down and close to nature, the dirtier your hands the better. It's just sometimes I can't help wondering if I'm scraping the barrel a little and that sometimes I really should find something more exciting to occupy my time.



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