Yesterday was one of those days that ended up going in a completely different direction to what I’d planned. The plan was not an exciting one, the house was looking neglected and in need of a good tidy and clean, and I’m afraid to say still does! I’d successfully bid at a local auction on a pair of fabulous old and very large terracotta pots, planted with a couple of sickly looking six foot standard Bay trees. At the time I was envisaging these pots planted with tulips followed by luscious summer bedding, acid green and silver foliage with dahlias the star performers. As is my way, the practicalities of getting them home we’re not a necessary consideration, we’d just remove and bin the Bays, then pop the pots in the back of the car.
So yesterday morning after school drop off, I went to collect my new treasured acquisitions. I realised that to remove the existing Bays I’d need some equipment so sensibly took a spade, trowel, fork, saw and the husband. Reality quickly hit, these Bays were not going to easily lift from the pots, an hour later, after a lot of hard graft the bays had been extracted, I can honestly say that I’ve never lifted anything as heavy in my life. The pots (getting on for the second heaviest thing I’d lifted in my life) were hauled into the car and taken home. A return journey was then made, after all the effort we’d gone to I’d formed an attachment with these belligerent sickly trees and am determined to resurrect them into a stunning garden feature. By 8pm I’d successfully finished the morning’s simple job, the standard bays planted into nursery pots where they’ll get some TLC and the beautiful terracotta pots ready in waiting for planting that will compliment their splendour.
My fabulous new pots
The Sickly bay, planted up in a nursery pot.