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Hedge Cutting

This morning, as we left the house, it was obvious that something was going on. What a noise! We wandered out of our little lane and turned down the road – the sound getting louder and louder as we approached.

As we’d guessed – hedge trimming was in full swing. This is the ideal time to do it from our point of view. The hedges have become very overgrown, and now that they have all gone to sleep for the winter they won’t wriggle and squirm while they are having their hair cut. A couple of weeks ago we had several days of frost and that softened up the berries on the various plants and bushes. The birds and small mammals immediately took advantage and relieved the bushes of their fruit in very short order.

So, the bushes have dozed off and the cupboard is bare – who could possibly complain that the rampant growth of spring and summer is being tidied up and made shipshape and Bristol fashion.

No doubt it will also assist with the search for the best nesting site as soon as spring turns up next year.

Holly Leaves

Poof! Well, we’re back to the old grind. A blog, once a week, on Friday. In many ways, it’s comforting to be back. It was exciting writing a poem a day with no idea what the subject of our rhyme would be – until we had a photo to work with. Mostly, we managed to use an image taken that morning on the phone – We did cheat a couple of times, but I’m sure you didn’t notice.

Today’s picture is of holly leaves. During November we had a picture of them that included some nice bright red berries. Today, you’ll notice their absence.

Holly Berries are very hard – and even birds find them indigestible – until we get a good frost. The cold not only softens the berries, but it also changes them chemically to make them more nutritious. We have had a few frosty mornings lately, and the berries must have responded to the cold. The birds didn’t stand on ceremony, Christmas or no Christmas, Holly branches with no red berries troubled them not at all. They had cleaned the bushes out completely a few days after the frost.

Needs must when – well, you know.

The End

NaNoWriMo Day 30 – The End

Thirty days,
Thirty ways,
We found time
To write a rhyme.
Now it’s done
Thirty-one,
We will not do.
No rhymes we’ll hew
From solid words.
Beast and birds,
Plant and flower,
In hedgerow bower,
May safely doze.
We’ll stick to prose.

Moving Scenery

NaNoWriMo Day 29 Moving Scenery

The moving finger writes – and hedges fly past.
Some of life’s moments are ephemeral, but some last
The message can’t be seen without the wall
Life is fleeting feelings, context is all

Time plays its games in clear focus years
The shorter the perspective the more blurred it appears
Seconds, minutes, moments, in tumbled profusion fly
Our gaze flips between and watches life pass by

Leafless Trees

NaNoWriMo Day 28 – Clean-Up

Summertime is full of fun
But when outside play is done,
Each and every sleepy head
Now must make its way to bed.

Tired from all the sunshine play
In the bright, long summer’s day
Shed their leaves just where they stand,
To snug cots take Autumn’s hand.

Winter’s gales will soon be here
Driving dark clouds grey and drear.
Round about tree trunks she weaves
Sweeping up those cast of leaves.

Leftovers

NaNoWriMo Day 27 – Leftovers

The plate is empty.
The last drops of gravy wiped away.
Roasted potatoes,
Gone now their glorious array.
Where the roast parsnips?
They were consumed, no place to hide.
Here, I’m left standing
Like a piece of gristle pushed aside.

Ivy Flowers

NaNoWriMo Day 26 Ivy

The Ivy bears a berry, so Christmas carols say,
And later in the winter, many birds will survive.
When bitter Ivy berries are the feast of the day
And, as other food is scarce, they help them stay alive.

But it’s too soon for berries, there’s other food around.
Now, through rain, hard frozen hail and later cold snow showers,
The Ivy waits its proper turn, its berries are still bound,
But to honour its faithful promise it now puts out its flowers.