This is one of my favorite spots in Hampstead Cemetery. I just love that old pine tree. The middle grave used to be covered with an elaborate ivy headdress, but that was stripped away some time ago and I must admit it now looks better.
So, as you can guess, taking the dog to the cemetery was one of yesterday's activities. We actually hadn't been in a while but she was in a walking mood. She took me for a long walk in the morning, up the high street and around the neighborhood, and then she was raring to go again in the afternoon. Now, this morning, she's flat-out unconscious and snoring!
We saw another grave covered with bright red yew berries. Olga seemed quite upset by it.
Otherwise, the day was pretty uneventful. I did two loads of laundry in the morning, and then the tree guy came and I showed him what we're thinking about doing in the back garden. As I told you, I haven't really been able to photograph any of it very well, but I did make a video if you're interested in a more thorough explanation:
My original plan was to post the video alone -- hence the now somewhat redundant intro -- but oh well. Plans change!
Anyway, the tree guy seemed to understand that while we want to thin that barrier and remove the dead stuff, we don't want it gone entirely. He's going to get back to me in a few days with numbers, which I will pass on to the landlords.
And that's about it for life around here. Dave was at school yesterday afternoon helping students prepare for honor band auditions, and he'll be doing that today, too. So I'll be on my own, probably reading more of "Mecca," which is pretty good so far. I'm about 45 pages in and still unsure where the plot is going to go, but the writing seems promising.
Maybe Olga sees dead people.
ReplyDeleteAs for the half dead tree and the mountain of ivy, that looks like a lot of work and mess... and new garden space to plant.
I see why you need help with that!
ReplyDeleteBut a judicious amount of clearing will give you much more usable garden, whilst retaining what you need
Instructions from Bob the head tree surgeon to his team: "While I am away in Tenerife, get in there at the back with the chain saw and cut everything down as instructed by the nice Russian lady. Get it all done between ten and two while the American bloke is at work."
ReplyDeleteThere is something quite peaceful about cemeteries.
ReplyDeleteGreat narrative voice there! I wonder if it's the deadish tree that's causing the complaint. You'd be better off with less ivy, though I'd be sorry to cut it before the bees are done with it.
ReplyDeleteI think cutting away the dead foliage would be good all round. But yes, not brush hogged!
Thanks for the tour.
Looks to me like you have a fox and bird habitat back there. I'd hate to disturb too much of that. But then again- what do I know? Very little.
ReplyDeleteI can see why you need help from people with tools and know how.
I still say leave it be. there's no way to remove the dead wood without tearing up all of it. all that ivy and stuff will get torn out and I think the little 'cave' is very cook. I also don't think it was the guy from the complex complaining since on the other side of the brick wall they have their own trees and plants. the dead trees or mostly dead don't look like they are endangering anything. I guarantee you won't like the result if you let tree guys back there.
ReplyDeleteI like Olga. She has everything in control. She walks where she wants to. Sleeps when she wants to. So you know who's boss.
ReplyDeleteI think cleaning it up just a bit will give more room for healthy things to grow and room for foxes and birds to hang out. It will look great, and the critters will love it too.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of Olga and the berries.
Well. I'm a sucker for brick or stone walls. It does seem as if you got that tree removed and cleared away the dead tangle, you'd have quite a bit more garden space, and you would also have quite a nice brick wall as a back drop. I was all for ignoring it initially, but seeing your little video, my completely unsolicited advice would be to tell the landlord there's been a complaint, and that you'd like to get the dead tree removed to avoid problems. (I still think there is a strong possibility that Mrs. Russia is not on the up and up). Once that space is cleared, I'd probably move the bench further back and create an arbor around it for that lovely ivy.
ReplyDeleteGreat video. The Elder tree does look unhealthy. The vines are overgrown. They are probably choking out other plantings. Thinning things out would improve the garden. Unhealthy trees can cause risk of falling over. The tree specialist can provide good advise. Olga seems to like the cooler weather. It is energizing.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice hearing your voice. You have a voice for radio.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is lovely and hopefully the arborist can get rid of the dead stuff and clear things out a bit. I'm sure your landlord appreciates all the work you do in the garden.
Aha...I see the dead looking part now. It will be interesting to see what kind of an estimate they come up with. Tree trimming is expensive these days. Well really, everything is expensive these days.
ReplyDeleteOne other thing I noticed was the wonderful blue sky. I hope that holds on for another week at least. :-)
I hate to see that much plant cover being lost. Trees look like nails to tree trimmers, and they're a hammer.
ReplyDeleteI find Old Cemeteries to be such Peaceful places with a Beauty about them, so that first Image was everything.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't know how to remove the (almost) dead tree without messing up the stuff growing on it, but I do think for safety reasons, if anything, it should come down. Hopefully the tree trimmers have the experience to do that. You would probably end up with a much healthier habitat in the long run.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing the barking shot of Olga!! Go, girl!
I'm agreeing with Debby here, she said almost exactly what I was going to.
ReplyDeleteMitchell: Well, that's true. The more I think about it, the more I wonder what else we could do with that area!
ReplyDeleteGZ: Yeah, it's way beyond a job I could do myself, particularly with our paltry garden tools.
YP: You think the Russians are paying them under the table? LOL
Bob: It's one of my favorite places to walk the dog. I'm sure people in blogland wonder why I'm so obsessed with cemeteries.
Boud: Yes, the dead or dying tree appears to be the main complaint, though the caretaker also mentioned the ivy and fears that it would damage the wall. (That's all via Mrs. Russia.)
Ms Moon: Exactly! That's why we've left it. It's great for the birds and foxes definitely do slink around behind the bushes.
Ellen: Well, it's hard to show, but a substantial part of that elder tree hangs over the wall and over their trees and plants. So I can see why he's concerned.
Red: She is DEFINITELY the boss of me!
Robin: I think you're right. We don't want to clear it but we do need to tidy it up.
Debby: When we first moved here we could see the wall a little better. That shrubbery has always been there but it's grown out of control over the years!
Susan: Yeah, I hate to cut down a tree that's even a little bit alive, but I do think that elder probably has to go.
Pixie: Thank you! I once narrated a film for a friend of mine in college. People often say I have a radio voice, though I don't really hear it myself!
Sharon: Yeah, I kind of dread the numbers. We'll see! I think we're due to get more clouds in the next few days.
Allison: Well, I agree, which is why we've left it alone all these years. But it's just not acceptable anymore, particularly if that dead or dying tree poses a danger.
Bohemian: You would LOVE Hampstead Cemetery. Lots of history!
Kelly: Well, I think some of those climbers will inevitably have to go. But hopefully we can preserve some too.
River: I do like the idea of an arbor for the ivy. It would be great to cultivate it on a structure that's meant for it!