Pruning of a human kind

Day to day armed with a bladed tool, be it secateurs, loppers, lawn mower, edging shears, or hedge trimmer, I take pride in my work. This means I start out with a rough plan – in my head – on the task in front of me, considerations are many. Type of plant, season of flowering, growing, producing, shape, allotted space and vigour are just some. All the while as I snip, shear and cut unwanted or dead growth away, I step back and forth at intervals to check and assess progress, in doing this I can avoid costly mistakes and unhappy clients!

Wisteria is one such plant, early training and pruned twice a year back to a framework it will reward in bountiful hanging blooms bursting with life as the bees love it. This one is in its fourth year after planting on the south facing front wall of our house.  Wisteria ‘Domino” a scented tri-coloured floribunda variety.

As Englands locked down status has recently been extended the Long-suffering is now many weeks past his best before haircut date! After much discussion it was decided a home haircut was the way forward if we didn’t want him to scare the grandchildren when next we read – via FaceTime – their bedtime story.

After our home exercise class and breakfast the kitchen was converted into the hair salon. Long-suffering arrived for his appointment hair wet and looking anything but ’cool as a cucumber’.

I deliberately forgot to set up a mirror for him to look in, out in the garden mirrors are not essential! And really, thats what got me through the half hour it took to tidy him up. By thinking about how I would go about pruning a plant I just applied the same principles to his full head of hair stems….. After all you want to end up with an even tidy shape sometimes of different lengths that grow and blend well together as the season/weeks progress.

And he seems happy with the results meaning I get to breathe evenly again!

Although almost fully back to work I am still trying to keep up with the little daily sketchbook watercolour challenges and some larger works. Often with these larger watercolours a hairdryer is needed to speed the drying process for further paint application especially if you are a bit impatient like me.

This week a new toy arrived in the shape of a hula hoop – a weighted fitness kind – ordered a while back and delivered this week. Memories of my childhood as I popped it over my head and spun the hoop, frantically at first and then calmer as I realised it is the same as riding a bike, you really don’t forget. I can only do it one way proficiently but am trying daily for a few spins on the opposite side.

It has two uses one as hopefully a waist whittler and the other as a way of making me step away from the watercolour and instead of watching and noisily powering the paint dry, I come back with fresh eyes and a smile from reliving my youth spinning in the playground!

The finished paintings…

Good news this weekend our friend has made another important step forward in his ongoing battle from Coronavirus. And to lift our spirits some rainbows arrived from the grandchildren – and their mummy –  for our windows.
They maybe many miles away but in spirit we will see them every day. Keep safe everyone!