The Great Oak, with its ivy coat, has been crowned and is now safe. We have logs to season for the wood burner and a huge pile of mulch for the gardens.
We did have to lose a pine, which grew dangerously over the fence but we will be using the large slices of trunk as seats and stepping stones in the garden.
We also found Alder, a Juniper, Mulberry and a Red Chinese Birch.
I always dreamt that one day I'd have an orchard and now we have cherry trees, plums, apples, pears, hawthorn, blackthorn and hazelnuts.
The robins and wrens have been watching carefully, as have the ravens and goldfinches. The cuckoo woke me this morning. As I write blackbird sings, whilst robin is just outside the door.
Poppies have popped open, their purple plum petals and yellow centres greeting me just inside the garden gate.
Foxglove seedlings were found in a pot I brought from our old house. These have been added to the courtyard beds with this year's tall Foxglove spikes, so now we'll have these again next year.
Gooseberries have been picked and I will collect some elderflower heads to make a gooseberry and elderflower fool.
I found yarrow and plantain in the grass with various mushrooms (which I need to identify).
Ferns are growing up the back steps next to the mossy walls. Dog roses ramble.
And we returned from Symmetry festival with lots of organic herbs and homemade teas from Bumpstead Herbs.
I also discovered a few more ways to use doTERRA peppermint essential oil...
1. Made a natural aphid spray by adding a few drops to my plant water sprayer and spritz them.
2. To remove a tick from my son by adding a drop of neat peppermint to the tick, waiting a minute or so and then see if it backs out or becomes easy to remove.
3. A drop to my organic peppermint tea or hot chocolate.
If you want more info on essential
oils, I am also a Wellness Consultant for doTERRA. Please click on my page
http://www.mydoterra.com/lisaigo/
Much love.
Ps Plant lovers, what is this? 
