Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
29th May 2021
Walt Disney Missed Out
As time goes on I think Walt Disney missed out on my life more and more. The boundaries between indoors and outdoors are becoming more blurred and I don’t just mean because of my aversion to housework.
As well as having several blackbirds and robins nesting in the garden, meaning I can’t use one of the sheds, access a strimmer or trim any hedges, I now have a little wren nesting in my porch – right next to my front door. I know we have been in lockdown but it does suggest I wasn’t using it enough! I have put a sign in the porch entrance to give her some peace and quiet, am using the back door and already dreading the stress of fledgling time.
I also have a nest of buff-bottomed bumblebees (or ‘buff bummed bottombees’ as a friend referred to them) in an old riding hat in the entrance of the open fronted barn – something I use every day. The barn, not the riding hat. The whole hat is humming cheerfully and the bees are absolutely no threat whatsoever – I actually feel highly honoured to have them share my space.
A family of rabbits are living under an old bath in the veggie patch – much to Yogi’s indignation and I am paying the price of ‘loving having them around’ with young plants as currency. Despite wire netting around various veggie beds, they are insisting that they have signed up for bed andbreakfast, not just board alone.
Pigeons have stripped the leaves from my first lot of runner beans and mice have eaten my first sowing of peas. Slow worms halted mowing by basking in the long grass on the one sunny day we had last week and a woodpecker has recently tried to peck its way into one of my beehives for an indulgent honey-rich meal.
Yes, Walt Disney would have had more material here than he would have needed, for sure. And yet I wouldn’t have it any other way. I will net the next lot of beans, sow my next lot of peas in an old dustbin out of mouse reach and wait for my feathered friends to leave before I can access sheds – and my porch (you did read that right – porch, not Porsche.)
Jungle Fever
Gardens in general will just be starting their ‘jungle-esque’ stage as growth finally begins in earnest. Don’t panic. Aim to keep on top of the grass, edge the borders and keep paths and steps clear of weeds and enthusiastic or sprawling plant growth and you will be halfway there. If you can pull out big weeds, like nettles and docks, from beds and borders that will also help. For most gardens – and gardeners – it is all about the overall look at this time of year, not so much the detail. There will be plenty of time to catch up later when nature slows down. Thirty five years of gardening have taught me that it is futile to try and keep up now. We don’t all have Monty’s reserves and recruits and most of us have to prioritise our gardening jobs. Machinery that isn’t used to regular work may play up (it is always worth making friends with someone who can fix garden machinery) and regular high wind and storms will probably mean there are ongoing structural repairs to be made too. Repairing a fence – or a mower, for example, should take priority over propagating pelargoniums.
And if you are having trouble with your first lot of seeds – veg or flowers – remember that you can usually get a good selection of young plants from most garden centres, so it’s really not the end of the (gardeners’) world.
Fire Starter
I adore my fire pit and although it hasn’t had much use yet this year, looking at the forecast, I have high hopes for the next week or two. I’m even more enthusiastic, as I have discovered Fire Dragon’s fab’luss firelighters and gel firelighter. Little things are important and being able to light the fire pit and/or BBQ without faffing about is even more important when suitable days are of a premium. But … and here’s the clever bit they burn when wet and therefore can be used in the most extreme weather. I think that makes them essential for fire-starting in Wales.
And on that note, you won’t be surprised to read that BCB Adventure Ltd is a Welsh business, ‘borne out of the natural fiery passion of South Wales and its coal mining heritage’ and their ‘world first’ products developed in collaboration with Cardiff University.
The FireDragon products are odourless, environmentally friendly, made from natural ingredients and as I’ve mentioned, ‘burn even when wet’.
Dubbed the firelighter of the future, the FireDragon firelighter was initially created and developed for military professionals and outdoor adventure enthusiasts to cook their rations and boil their brews quickly. Important stuff when you are outdoors in all weathers. As well as lifting spirits, the health of the user and the environment has also been carefully considered.
Cleverly, they are essentially made from rotten vegetable matter (UK sourced ethanol) rather than wood from trees like other firelighters.
And did I mention you can light them when wet?
Hot Stuff
As well as their ground breaking fire starters, other FireDragon products include a mini cooker, a folding cooker, complete outdoor cooking sets – including the Crusader Cooking System, which I unashamedly covert partly because it was originally designed to meet the changing requirements of the future combat solider – a fireball flint and striker that would make Bear Grylls weep and something else that I have always dreamt of … wind and waterproof matches. How cool?
Seriously, some women get excited about shoes and handbags but they won’t keep you warm – not unless you set fire to them – something made much easier and doable in all weathers with a couple of Fire Dragon products. Simples.
More details about all of their products at www.bcbin.com
Great read Lynne!!! You bring a smile to my face with your illuminated story telling, humour and knowledge!!! Thank you.