Cutting down to size

 Peering out of the study window yesterday, I decided that one of our shrubs needed pruning. A vigorous thing which would soon, unattended, be beyond my reach. Might even need to employ a gardener.

I then thought that with the danger of frost near past, it might be a good time to prune an evergreen, with the new shoots so stimulated into action not getting frosted and getting a good period of growth before the frosts set in again.

So, as befits a former Boy Scout, out this morning with two ladders, two pieces of rope, three mixed pruners, one litter picker (for fetching prunings out of the middle of the shrub), one wheelbarrow and a rake. Some four hours later job done, with the results illustrated - and the new shape is better from ten yards than this view from one might suggest.

We shall see how quickly the thing greens over again.

We shall also see if the coal tits (see 10th March) have been scared off. There was no sign of them yesterday and there was nothing this morning.