Hey honey, I cut down the tree....

Now for a while I've been pondering the heinous crime which is that of actually cutting down a tree. Having lived in the lands of Orkney for a goodly while, its become inherent that love them or hate them, trees live and should not be cut down. If they've survived the climate I'd say they're welcome to a long happy life. So its been a while in the mulling and a long heartfelt ponder that's lead to the current crime scene. This tree whilst not yet dead, is certainly muchly reduced in height.  (Above tree height currently, below tree height not too long ago.) The Laburnum appears to be about 60 years old, if my ring counting is correct.

Why you ask would I be so cruel as to cut down a tree enroute for its pension at 60 years? Its honestly NOT because I have a wood fire fettish (although we know that's true). Its not that I have an underused chainsaw either.  Quite simply unfortunately for it, poor soon to be ex, rather short tree, it was merely the wrong type tree in the wrong type of place. Hardly a crime I hear you cry. Nope its not a crime but unfortunately this poor tree was a Laburnum anagyroidies.

These trees are one of the most toxic you'll find in any garden the whole plant is very toxic, more so the tiny seeds, even I washed my hands after handling, its that horrid. We all grow poisonous plants and don't get me wrong I'll live with heart stopping foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) and the wolf killing Monkshood (Aconitum napellus) because I can avoid eating them. I admit I try and keep my temper with toxic plants especially when vexed, its not clever to kill loved ones with flowers, even if you really feel like it at the time, it generally passes, its true, I've experience of this. And, dear hearts, they always look to the gardener first in the classic case of a poisoning. However, with something as toxic as a Laburnum, living with it is fine if you've a spot under which you don't use and no children lurking about who might try and eat the seeds.

Potting shed and Laburnum flowers, not a great combo.

My children never ate anything toxic in the garden, lets face it sometimes its a struggle to get kids to eat peas never mind tiny black seeds. But, I'd never recommend it in a family garden that's for sure the whole plant is incredibly toxic and the toxic chemical is uber concentrated in the seeds of the tree. If you've got one and live with it in relative harmony, good on ya but its certainly NOT on the list for children-friendly gardens. Yellow also clashed with my shed and its bunting. So not cool. I'm not a fan of yellow plants, never have been and quite frankly you can't make me either. Give me a guady purple any day than yellow. Remember the poor senecio bush, its long gone too, its only crime, yellow flowers. Its long gone.

Manchild in apple tree. Teenager and garden as one.

These days, with one child in New Zealand (yes my cooking is THAT bad) and one permanently usb'd into his computer (or sometimes making it as far as the family hammock), I'm not too worried about the 'kids' eating the seeds. I'm not too sure they know what 'outside' looks like or how to 'interface' with it either. However, this garden whilst ample is in dire need of a decent sized chicken run. The most logical place for it is under the Laburnum tree. Chickens, whilst adorable are not the most clued up in Botany 101 so they'll have no clue that the seeds are toxic, just that there are plenty of them unfoot to scoff. Can you see where this is going?  They can't live on the terrace, whilst its ample and they'd be delightful as LinneW has mentioned previously the chooks in my life have a tendency to come indoors. And if they were on the terrace, I'd be inviting them to have a seat a while on the sofa. Probably not that helpful to them or me.

So, honey with a sad heart, I cut down the tree. It still hurts me to think of cutting down such a lovely specimen but it went and quietly limb by limb not even a tear did it shed. The debris is half way through being cleared up. I'll have to remove all the foliage and get rid of it elsewhere as its not even very easy to compost. I certainly don't want to be spreading the seeds about the garden. So slowly but surely each branch is defoliated, by hand. Unless anyone has a 'laburnum leaf stripper' they can lend. No? I'll crack on then.

So the leaves and seeds head off to the local amenity site where their hot composting processed will likely kill the toxic chemicals. In most frugal (absolutely insane) style - I've stripped each tiny branch off and chopped those to dry as kindling. I know I could buy kindling, that would certainly be easier than hand stripping a tree but lets face it this stuff is free and that leaves my pennies for fruit trees to replace the Laburnum.

The larger branches I'll keep for some jousting, or similar pastime. Caber tossing I think might be a bit too much for them if we have our own mini-highland games.......there's a thought. Toss the Laburnum. Has a nice ring to it don't you think?

The larger limbs will be stored, dried and split into logs..........

I've started on that, but most of the larger branches are still 'under leaf and seed' so the pile will increase slowly. Why bother you ask. Why not ship the lot to the skip. Well, wood is wood, seeds or not. So if I have to get rid of the vegetation, so be it. A wee task before we can stoke up the stove, but worth it. And the wood of Laburnums is particularly good for burning, so at least its final use will be a productive one.

Laburnum seeds are the source of a chemical so chemically close to nicotine that a derivative of its seeds are used as an anti-smoking drug. If I'd a mind I'd whip up a cure to smoking in the potting shed using the seeds and probably an old demi-john, some garden hose and a paraffin heater. I mean how hard can it be to make drugs in your shed....... However, I'd rather do this type of smoking instead, the one in the cooker which helps feed us.  Today it made sausages. I like a cooker that provides home made sausages don't you?

So the trees down, sad times but onwards to the new chicken coup and fruit orchard which they'll live under. This is to be a productive garden after all. Sad that a tree is down but we'll plant plenty to replace it. First though a lot of debris to clear up. Chooks are quite excited. Yes really that's Rose's excited face. Three weeks, 91 eggs later, the girls are guaranteed a place 'somewhere' in the garden! And, who ever heard of a chicken laying yellow eggs, no I tell you, they're safe.

Did the hounds help too, I hear you cry?  Aye right. They know better than to interfere when I've a chainsaw in my paws and they don't actually do 'manual' work. Bad for their nails. Guess I'm on my own then. Although I see him plenty when the stove provides sausages, what's that all about?

Peedie staying 'safe' and guarding the homestead whilst the tree was chopped.

The horti-canis (garden dog)

I've been asked about the 'horti-canis' in my life - here is the little mischievous garden dog in our little life. Peedie as some of you may be aware is a cairn terrier, a very muddy looking version, if you like, of those white, very clean looking 'westies' or west highland terriers. However, cairns are a very ancient scottish highalnd breed used to chase haggis, um I mean rodents, or maybe both, one of the first ever working dogs. I think if you crossed a terrier with a haggis or a tortioseshell cat, you'd get our dog.

Peedie enjoys drinking out of anything, the more disgusting the better. He enjoys gardening very much, is excellent at removing willow cuttings or shrubs minutes after you've planted them, watering several plants a day, but his favourite pursuit being digging in raised beds, just for fun and sitting in them after he's dug them up. Peedie it would seem has not read manuals on gardening that bestow the delights of raised beds as a way of managing pets and children in a vegetable garden. He's of the opinion that you have made him a mound of earth on which to perch, watch the world go by and spy on birds who may wish to rob the homestead at any opportunity. Pesky garden dog!

This dog, is fair to be said, very fond of the odd adventure down the beach and eats abundantly, often feasting on scarves, hats, gloves and sand, even more often, things we just don't want to talk about in polite company. He's Peedie and he's disgusting, but quite cute!

Looks innocent enough doesn't he? Don't be fooled, every footstep, every move is thoughtfully planned out by this super intelligent pedigree (he's even got papers and everything, and a posh name) canine.

His favourite flowers are daisies, he's very fond of sleeping late, trying to give you his bone when you're *just* about to fall asleep, chasing birds, eating chicken food, warning rats of any danger they may face from humans (he has not read the blurb on how he's an effective ratter by nature, with 'superior ratting instincts', um no, he's not what you'd call very sleathy at all. He's very fond of food, doesn't care about his 'squareness' of body shape, he is fond of eating picnics straight from the basket, sandwiches straight from your bag and won't thank you for sharing! That being said, he's great company whether in the garden, on the beach or even when he's dug himself into the chicken run again or followed the chickens, just to inspect their food!

That's our little 'horti-canis' - who's the pesky non-human companion in your life?

Peedie and Fay, doon the beach at home.

Adventures in Hoy, with stripey stone beaches and the odd highland cow

Now having a new pair of wellingtons incurs a bit of responsibility - you have to make sure they get an idea of where they live and make sure they have adventures to keep them from running away from home. A bored pair of wellingtons, is not a happy pair is it now? Living on Orkney, there are um, about 80 odd islands in this little archepeligo (or should I say, not so little, maybe?) and its only fair to the wellies to get them out and about. We've been to many but Mr Flowers had never been to Hoy so thats the destination for our little adventure today. You'd be right to wonder if these wellingtons ever do any gardening, they do, but often they are also out on adventures! Today its Rackwick beach! 

Yesterday in true island hopping style we adventured off to Hoy, 35 minute ferry ride (£11.95 for a car one way) on one of the smaller inter islands ferry, to the second largest of the islands (mainland Orkney being the largest). Here we are at the bay of Rackwick, I think probably one of the nicest beaches I've ever been to (and if you know the kind of beach action we get up to that is indeed an accolade! I think its the combination of huge enormous cliffs, beach and gorgeous stripey stones and the notion that you can camp right on the beach beside a bothy (old barn), how perfect! A bit more info about that here..............from my old neighbour!

Anyway, being on adventures in new places means that your trusty cairn terrier Peedie pup leads the way - more checking out for abandoned sausages from the campsite than anything dangerous, but he does like to lead the way - so we let him! What a campsite eh? And the cliffs, amazing and difficult to get an idea of scale.........The roof of the bothy covered in large flag stones and then heather thatch, amazing what folk can do when wood and straw is scarce, brilliant use of local materials!

And we found a peedie (small) bench - which had a poingnant sign on it - I don't know the story, but these chaps seem awful young - we did as instructed and had a site and a think about these unknown (to us) chaps and our own loved ones..................

 And, we sat...............of course when adventuring, you wear your most glamourous gear! The cellist is at least slightly co-ordinated, although she has stolen my hat (so I stole Mr Flowers hat) - I'm my usual ramshackle of riotous stripes, borrowed hats and odd colours! And I know its nearly July and here we are in fleeces, hats, scarves etc - its 10 degrees here today - not a wet wild day, but NOT very warm! The temperature doesn't get very high here, although to be fair we've had a run of lovely (eg not wet and howling gales) weather over the past couple weeks, well aside that ONE nasty gale last week!

First there is the burn (small river) to cross - and a bit of a recycled (and a bit ramshackle if I might add) bridge to cross..........peedie was NOT keen, and can't blame him, his peedie paws might have got stuck, one advantage to a small dog - easy to scoop up under an arm and carry!

And, so to the beach...................its difficult to get an idea of the scale of both the beach and the cliffs - but we'll give it a go......Mr Flowers Ma, beach, cliffs - gives a bit of an idea of the size of the cliffs......!

Rackwick means 'rock beach' and boy were there rocks - the most gorgeous stripey rocks I've seen for a while, some the size of bean bags, some the size of bowling balls - all jumbled together on the beach - mostly stripey red sandstone, some slate black - but all amazing to look at!

 Now, here we go again, not much of an idea of scale - well heres my size 4 (EU 37) wellies on one of these delightful rocks!

 OK still not a great idea of scale, the cellist (age 14 and 11/12ths) had an idea 'Do you trust me?' she said, 'Um, maybe......' the reply - 'Mum, go stand on that stone she told me and conduct the sea....!' - 'Um, do what?', 'Conduct the sea!!!, Go down there arms out and conduct the sea.' - being told my mission - I did indeed go and conduct the sea.......

 Now, the cellist does have an idea of scale, so maybe conducting the sea helped after all? That girl has a great eye for a photograph. And she does make me do the silliest of things - or maybe we inspire each other!! Perching on stones, conducting the sea, how perfect a way to spend a day!

And, whilst we are at it - I'd best say - photos here are a combination of Mr F, cellist and myself or everyone gets a bit huffy - but not today - beach far too gorgeous!

Finally the beach! And, a kiss for being a good conductor! How lovely it is to be loved! What a smacker I got there! And, yes at 14 and 11/12ths she's already taller. The gamerboy was snoring - having a day off for good behaviour at home (yesterday he helped build the table and bench in the garden). When not adventuring we do a little gardening, honest injun!

 Having discovered the delights of the beach, the Peedie pup was in his element - he almost looks graceful here! Whats he heading towards you might ask...................

 He's spotted my scarf and he's off for a tug of war with me - a very cheeky dog indeed - cairn terriers are full of life and this one is no exception!

 Now don't ask me who's winning - I've no idea - the scarf is well use to this kind of nonsense - we scarf fly and tug of war alot on beaches the wind helps hugely and its great fun!

Beaches often mean a sandy nose though!

 Ok, I'm sure you're bored with our antics so back to the view - you can see this beach from the ferry when you go to Orkney, the cliffs either side are quite dramatic - aren't they?

 An eyeful of cliffs and an idea of scale - the cellist obliging this time!

 And those rocks - so beautiful - someones left us a bit of beach art - how perfect! We didn't distrub it, I'm sure the sea or the wind will soon enough!

 Again more beach art, in Orkney you'll see this type of thing everywhere - I always like to have a look and see what folk have done with the stones! Gives a good few ideas for the garden too......

 And there are so very many stones to look at we could have done that all day long, but we only had the day in Hoy so we had to make our way up to the car and say goodbye to the beach!

 Bye to the cliffs on the left and bye to the cliffs on the right - the old man of Hoy sea stack (449 ft) just barely visible at hte edge of the cliffs in that photo - maybe that gives an idea of the scale of the cliffs which are MUCH taller!

 One final look at the stones! This one is large enough for both the cellist and I to stand on, half way up the beach, imagine the force that got it there?! But far too pretty for our mangey feet to obscure the colours!

Goodbye to the stones and up onto the dunes - one final look back!

Tramping through the dunes, past the campsite, past the bothy finally a picture of a flower! Thistles are beginning to come into flower here - these are marsh thistles (Cirsium palustre)- when they are fully out I love the architecture of them a week or two they will look brilliant arms stetched out waving in the wind!

 More exploring a bit of lunch and a fair bit of driving along empty single track roads toward crofts and cottages under the high hills of Hoy....we did see a couple of cars when we were there for the day, but to be honest maybe not more than half a dozen! About 300 people live in Hoy, maybe they were all at different beaches today? There are many to choose from! Lucky for us we had the island almost all to ourselves to explore at our leisure!

 How lovely would it be to live here? Over the road, we spied my very favourite bovine - the noble Highland Cow! When we farmed in Colonsay, we had a couple of highland cows, its my ambition to own another few, one day. But for today at the end of our adventure in Hoy, at the very end of the road on the island how lovely to find one sitting ready to frame the view over to the mainland of Orkney - thank you very much you bovine beauty!

 No, now no need to get up and greet us, please go about your business watching the view and contemplating life! But, if you don't mind a close up, we'd be much oblidged!

 Then back to a bit of sitting! Time for us to go home, what an excellent adventure indeed! Thank you HOY! We needed to dash back for the ferry and homewards - we look over to Hoy from our house - so its nice to look over to the house from Hoy - we did give the house a wave when we were over there - just to be polite!