As the Crocus fade and the sun warms the garden I decided I really had to make a start on tackling this bed. It hasn't been touched for several years, apart from a bit of pruning and arms of Columbine pulled from the ivy at the back.Some years ago whilst struggling with Lyme Disease and not able to garden I got Mike to clear out many of the herbaceous plants and plant up with shrubs some of which I'd grown from cuttings, thinking it would be easier to maintain, especially as it is full of ground elder, which is difficult to get rid of. Mike is not so particular as I am about the garden if it is green that's ok by him although he does enjoy the garden immensely and is a bit of a wiz these days with the vegetables.
Apart from the very long cold snowy and wet winter there have been other obstacles to sorting out this area of the garden. I dread to think what the grass will be like when Mike finally completes the roofing project which was interrupted by the weather.
So a start was made and only half way through I have already filled two trugs of ground elder roots for the council tip. One bucket of rubble later I found an especially difficult piece of rubble to remove, just where I wanted to move some of the crocus too in the front of the border.
Of course the lump was under part of the grass and with all the rubble used to build this part of the garden up after the previous owner had building work done I had found plants didn't grow well here and so decided to remove the offending piece.
I wondered how big it really was, dug up the grass, was a bit unsure in case it was part of a drain lid, or maybe with the strangle lip it was an old sink or part of a toilet. The house was built in 1900 and originally had an outside privet at the bottom near the pond. I also pondered the idea that it could be a cover for a well as many of the houses along this street had wells at the back.
Well eventually out it came and no it was not any of the things I'd thought, it wasn't treasure of any sort.
Turning it over the name imprinted in reverse, clearly showed it was CEMENT, so what shall I do with it now? Perhaps find some strategic spot and call it Joanne's Folly!However you can imagine the physical effort needed to remove this from the ground after already spending an hour digging Ground Elder.
I spent 6 1/2 years suffering with debilitating and painful arthritis and muscle weakness, my fingers hurt to blow my nose, my hands hurt to hold a magazine and I could not walk up or down stairs properly for 3 1/2 years how many more people's painful Arthritis could like mine be as a result of Lyme Disease how many more people could get better on long term antibiotics? For more information look at the links on my side bar and follow the link into my other blog Looking at Lyme Disease. How many family members and friends do you know who have symptoms and have never been properly assessed for Lyme Disease because of the controversies surrounding diagnosis and treatment. How lucky was I? Although all could have been avoided if only doctors were more aware and had treated me when I had presented with bites and obvious bulls eye rashes, with a few weeks of simple antibiotics.
