Hello! Wow… this post was going to be about crochet and lizards.
However…
I suppose you recall me whinging about the weather recently? Including rather severe winds? (like everyday for a week haha)
Well… above is my main vegetable garden!! Several tons of Macrocarpa have obliterated it.
Mistress of Understatement, Kirrily comes in to say there is a ‘branch’ down come and see!!
We weren’t prepared to see this!
These trees are absolute monsters. The big worry now is that the whole stand would be unstablised now that a big swathe off the front has fallen.
Two of the raised beds survived, along with the asparagus and celery. No sign of the third raised bed & lettuce (I don’t hold out high hopes to be honest) and the beetroot is slightly buried. Will try a rescue mission tomorrow.
Salvaged the leek. (somewhat broken)
While top branches hit the far fence and sent the gate off kilter, we were lucky in so many ways.
Firstly, because its all about me, I was lucky I am a sook about working outside in high winds. Not because I feel in danger (although from now I might) but because it just drives me batty. So I am pretty grateful I am not dead.
Secondly, apart from some guttering on the shed and a long disused aerial that was sheared off, the shed and cars were missed.
Thirdly – it fell into our yard and not over the highway
We are really going to have to look at getting them taken out much as it pains me. (Not least the thought of the potential cost) However – now the whole system is probably unstable and we don’t want to be responsible for major accidents/deaths.
Raised bed and bean trellis under there somewhere
Once the winds dropped we went out for a closer look and started to cut and move the more manageable pieces. (Ahhh the sign!!)
This is no mere ‘branch’ !!
It was a tragic moment to realise that Jeff’s wonderful new gate is now a twisted wreckage 🙁
Most of the pallet fence survived! Just a few sections flattened.
On the bright side, Macrocarpa is quite a valuable timber. There is a lot of millable wood in there so we will be looking to salvage some out of the main trunk. Of course, there will be some firewood in there somewhere too I guess!!
The above photo is looking back from the top corner of my garden. Lots of parsley has survived…
Did I need a new hobby? Not really.
Getting my veggie patch prepped for spring has brought up a whole new set of challenges far beyond weeding!!
Kirrily sitting pretty on top of the wreckage!
So far I really can’t say that 2018 has been boring hey?
I hope everybody elses Sunday has been slightly less exciting than ours!
Cheers!
Lisa- Wow! On the bright side, the humans,cat and buildings are unscathed! The gardens and gate can be rebuilt so lots to be grateful for in spite of the work ahead. Nature ,as always is in control! Good luck with the cleanup!
I really am so glad we got off lightly despite the work ahead! 🙂
Lisa – So thankful you and your family as well as the chickens and cat are all well. It looks like you have a great work cut out for yourself in the days ahead. If I was closer than an entire continent away, I would come to help out. Try to watch your steps and stay safe as you navigate around that huge “limb” clean-up. Post your progress. I for one always look forward to hearing what is going on with you.
Thank-you Beverly! I think we have been lucky – still concerned about the remaining stand of trees though…
Would be excellent to have you drop by 🙂 I’d bake a cake lol! Will definitely keep you posted on progress! The wind got up again last night but eerily quiet just now.
Lisa, I’m sorry about the garden but very glad you, the house and the cars are okay!
Thanks Caroline! Will be quite the effort, but it could have been worse!!
I am so glad you all are all right. If I was close I would come help you. You are both such hard workers that I am sure you will be surprised at your clean-up progress. Take care and know someone was watching out for you.
Thanks so much Janet! We hopefully will be able to clear most of the garden area ourselves… will have to get some experts in with bigger equipment to sort some of those big logs of course! Will be an interesting process!!
Lisa, Wow, I’m so thankful no one was hurt and that it missed your home and cars! What a project to get it cleaned up. I also would come and help if you nearby!
Janet in Woodway,Washington
Thanks Janet! It was horrible going down and trying to find the chickens and making sure they were all accounted for and not flattened! We really did get off lightly all around!
The wind has dropped at the moment so thinking I should get out and do a little something. 🙂 (Maybe I can build an entire new fancy garden fence??)
WOW! Thankfully nobody got clobbered. Lots of work ahead for you but lots of firewood too. 🙂
So happy to hear the chickens are also ok! Love those egg producers!
Us too! We got a tiny egg today – which makes me think maybe one of the new young ones has started laying! Eggciting! 😛