Ivy, Ivy, and not an inch to spare!

The mission for the day was to cut away the mess that in the front of the house. It's the first thing people see upon arriving. We all have to walk past it entering and leaving. I hate, HATE it. So I was both dreading and eager to get rid of it. My dread was because it involved ivy. I despise ivy. I don't know who thought it belonged in gardens but they deserve an Ig Nobel Award.

It's a small space just inside and to the right of the entry gate. But it took ages, I wasn't feeling well, I thought the exertion would make me feel better. It just made me really, really, really tired. So tired I couldn't go out tonight to a fun evening. :( I stopped several times during the clearing to rest and to consider the next necessary steps. I may have been too severe with the bush in the corner, but it really doesn't belong there it just sprawls over the fence onto the sidewalk and into my neighbor's front space. It's stripped down now. There is more ivy and there are other bushes that will need pruning as well.

After the corner bush, I just went after the ivy. The snails were not happy with me. Oh, well, there's still space for them to hide. Until I get that done too.

The next challenge is what to put there. I'm considering bamboo. It's screening, there are types that do not spread, but clump so are easy to control. And it sounds neat in the breeze. I think they do well in the limited sunlight out front. The cafe uses it and it's on the same side of the street as this building. Bamboo.

BEFORE:

AFTER:






At this point, I could do no more. I went in. I decided to take a peek out back. I heard something, rustling, I looked out the bathroom window and was surprised to see the foxes. Mom and the babies, they romped, she sat, watched. I took photos and a little video. What fun they had! After quite a while, they headed to the back of the garden again. She stopped, turned back and looked up at me. She knows I'm watching and wanted me to know she knows. I suppose.

This one was rather brave coming onto the ugly concrete right next to the house. One other did, too.






This is why it's hard to get a photo of them. They rarely stop chasing each other around. This is the only one with all 5 of them. Mom is behind the weed pile, on the right. Watching. The tips of their tails are white. Just the very ends. Cute.













I think they like messing about with the snails, then eating them. YAY! All the weeding I did makes the snails and slugs easier to find.