Re-thatching a nesting platform, or what to do with spent Hosta stems.
.
Midsummer is a time for trimming the hedge, deadheading flowers, and harvesting vegetables. It is also a good time to re-thatch one's roof - imagine a hearty Julia Child laugh right now.
.
I cut up the stems of the Hosta flowers that I had cut back and use them to re-thatch the roof of the nesting platform I keep as Our Lady's shrine. Then I take the twigs from my hedge pruning, split them in two, and nail them in place to secure the reeds tightly. The photos are self-explanatory.
.
Each winter the birds and Mr. Squirrel pull the dried thatch out, requiring that I repeat the process the next summer. It only takes about 20 minutes to do.
.
(The statue is wood and has been with me for 30 years - always outside in some sort of shrine, this year squirrel is throwing her out so I will replace the figure with another that the critters can not chew on. BTW - that is me in the last photo. You can see my big toe if you look closely.)
You are so cool!
ReplyDeleteYou really do have some exquisite gardens Terry--you should be proud. I like that fact that our Lady looks so weathered. I have an outdoor icon shrine on my patio, and my problem critters are bugs and not the squirrels. Even applying a seal coat of weather protectant doesn't deter them. Ah well. Very butch toe, btw.
ReplyDeleteThat's so pretty!
ReplyDeleteWhy do the squirrels harm the wooden statue? Could you sand out the damage and cover it in a protective coating of paint in order to salvage it?
I hope OL gets a stick of incense on her special days.
ReplyDeleteGette - thanks.
ReplyDeleteJohn - I like the patina too.
SF - the squirrel likes to sit under the roof when it rains and tries to dislodge the statue because she is in his way. He is not very devout.
Thom - I put a candle in the shrine on feast days.
I like this
ReplyDeleteMy hairy arms, right Cath? I knew I shoulda wore long sleeves.
ReplyDelete