The Boat

Last week we got a small rowing boat on eBay. It was delivered by a nice man with a van and we’ve already enjoyed several mini-cruises around the pond.

It’s great to see the garden and the house from a different vantage point.

From the boat it’s really obvious how much the self-set willows have encroached across the pond. Horizontal boughs have grown about 12 foot over the water in places. So, the last few days, loppers, secateurs and saw at the ready, and with good strong rope to secure the boat when I stand up, I’ve been on the water cutting back, loading up, unloading and dragging willow branches down to the bottom of the garden.

Already a transformation. Rediscovered pond margins, glimpses through what were previously thickets. The elegant shapes of the thinned out willows silhouetted against the grass paths looking sculptural in the evening sun.

This is real gardening. Standing in a small wobbly boat, hanging onto thin branches for stability, whilst sawing others out. I am up to my knees in leafy boughs, wind blowing the boat, twigs catching my clothes and hair and stinking water splashing in my face.

After recent serious worries this is therapeutic, this is fun.
This is just what I need.