Summer in the Netherlands is not so great this year. At least in my eyes! Many gray days, lots of rain, and little sun. Unfortunately, we will only have to do with what we get. Not that it makes me happier… but it is what it is. Nothing I can do about that.
In any case, yesterday it was time to paint the new bonsai table. And that became a project to do just as quickly between the rain showers. As I told in another blog, some of the bonsai trees and bonsai bowls were intentionally destroyed by the neighbor. It was hard to swallow when it happened, but now a new table has been made that will be placed outside. And this table can have EVEN MUCH MORE bonsai bowls. Which ultimately means, much more bonsai trees that brighten up the garden. A matter of not letting yourself be taken aback and not going to take it all, but rather take the opportunity to further expand the hobby.
But then back to the weather. I don't want the wood to be or get wet before or during painting. So of course I kept a very close eye on the weather forecast. Normally my phone is not stuck to my hands, in fact. I actually forget to take it often enough… but now my phone with the weather forecast was in my hand as if it had been attached with superglue. The table is not very small, and painting for outside usage is something I always want to do very carefully. After all, that wood has a lot to endure. Sun, rain, wind, frost, snow, drought ... you name it all. It must be able to tolerate that. Which means, the painting just has to be GOOD and also neat. In addition, holes had to be drilled in the beams of the table. Drilled holes? Hell yes! Now to prevent a malicious neighbor from destroying things once more easily, all trays that come on this table are secured to the bottom of the table! And some other things are going to make it a lot more difficult for them as well. But more about that later!
In any case, I managed to paint the table once, then it could just dry for half an hour. And then the large plastic was wrapped around it, because as it always seems to be the case this summer. to be, the next rain shower was already underway. The first small drops started to fall again. Quickly clean up the paint and brush, and continue with the next mission.
To the garden center!
And as always when I walk into a garden center I forget the time and enjoy all the beauty around me. The cheerful flowers, each more beautiful than the other. It all looks so seductive and for a while I paused at the butterfly-attracting flowers to admire the beautiful large butterflies that were present in abundance.
I had not brought my camera, afterwards I regret it a bit. But it is what it is, and you can also take photos with a phone. Not that they are immediately of great quality, but it is enough to show what I was enjoying yesterday.
When a while had passed it was time to remind myself of my goal. Because as much fun as it is to hang out in the garden center and admire all the beautiful colored and flowers, fragrant flowers, and green trees and plants. This time I left home with a completely different mission. I was looking for SPICKERS. Bushes with many thorns. I had to have that. And those species are abundant, but to keep it a bit fun to look at, I was looking for the Pyracantha!
Also known as ... The Firethorn.
A strong plant that can be used as a hedge plant, but also as a climbing plant. Here it will be used as a hedge plant. The mesh that has been cut by the neighbor is going to get some extra protection. The plant is a fairly fast grower and is known for its large thorns. Besides the big thorns it is also a very nice hedge to see. In May / June it is full of white umbels and in the autumn it gets colored berries. I have bought the “Red Column” and the “Soleil d 'Or” which means that it will get red and yellow / orange berries. Many birds find this hedge very suitable as a nesting place and love the berries, which ultimately gives the hedge many advantages.
It will certainly keep stupid, destructive neighbors at a distance, but besides that it will add color to the garden in both spring and autumn. And it brings a lot of extra life to the garden.
The Firethorn is resistant to almost all circumstances and I will make sure that the plants will have a good time here at this particular spot in the garden, so that they will quickly grow into a beautiful impenetrable hedge full of color and life, with beautiful large stinging thorns.
After a short search I found some nice plants. Now small, but after they have been planted in open ground they quickly grow into a beautiful large strong, almost impenetrable hedge. And I will certainly speak to them lovingly every day ... that will help, right?
With the purchase of these Firethorns, another item was off my list. Drive home quietly and enjoy the fact that after five car-free years there is the possibility to leave by car. Enjoy the beauty that you can even discover when the rain patters on the car. Enjoy the fact that you are dry and that you are also less limited in where you want to go, where you can go.
After I got home, the afternoon had already passed and it was time to start thinking about the daily 'problem'. Cooking. But I didn't feel like spending a lot of time on that… so I made myself a bit easy with a few vegan burgers on a sandwich. Sometimes you have to do something simple.
The Dogs
And of course there is time after that… yes… THE DOGS. How could it be different. Just let the legs stretch and enjoy quality time because if you as an owner have been busy during the day. And not only busy, but that you have also been away for a few hours. Then of course you have to make up for that by letting them run, play and enjoy with them. After the wonderful walk it was time for me to take a picture of all three of my treasures together. The first photo of this pack of dogs together ... Not yet with the camera, but that will probably be fine. Hopefully the dogs will stay a long time, and my camera can last a lot of years…
And after such a busy day, there is only one thing you can do next… and that is **RELAXING **with your dogs because we all enjoy that too. And dream about what we all still want. It is certain that it is still enough. It is also certain that work has to be done for the next big goal. And what that next big goal I have set myself, I will tell you quickly in a new blog. So I would say "Stay Tuned".