The problem with having acres of thistles to clear is not the physical effort it takes, although that is in itself a challenge, no it’s getting rid of the thistles when they are out of the ground.  Like the gorse I’ve been stockpiling it to dry and then burn.

Today was the day I got my burning kit out to light the bonfire and destroy those thistles already harvested.  You can see in this picture it’s a sizeable heap to burn. 

After an hour of fire building efforts I gave up as the thistles are not quite dry enough.  Bummer!

Thistle harvesting can’t wait for the incinerator though.  Those flowers are starting bloom and that can only spell disaster for another 7 years.  I have found with thistle harvesting you need to set yourself a goal and stick to it.  If you don’t you can find yourself spreading your efforts too thinly or getting carried away.  Or crawling away in my case as my back, legs and arms rebel!

Okay, first things first. Bassets need to find a spot for snoozing.  This takes around 45 seconds.  As long as they know I’m close by they are happy to settle quietly.

Opphs, did I say settled.  Here’s Fortnum just checking what I’m up to.

Now today’s goal. See the tree in the middle of the picture below?  That’s the goal.  To release that mighty beech tree from the stranglehold of weeds.  I’ve stuck the fork in the ground so you can get a sense of the size of these blighters.  Today’s goal is to cut a pie shape with the tree at the point and clear the weeds down to the grass line.  Wish me luck.

After an hour it’s time for a break to check out the wispy clouds in the otherwise blue sky.  Progress within this time looks pitiful but it was 10 barrow loads of thistles.

Time too to check out the bassets in action.  Hmm, don’t think Mason appreciates the interuption!

After another two hours the bassets haven’t gone far.

I also gave up on shifting thistles to the burning pile.  There are getting to be too many so I need to hatch another plan.  Obviously this will involve me shifting them using my new tractor and trailer.

Still, I did achieve my goal.  Oh and listened to two BBC arts programmes on my iPod.  I figured it’s time I started catching up with the hundreds of programmes downloaded and never get around to listening to.  One was about Rev. Ian Paisley (on his life, religion and politics) and the other a lecture by Will Self on how the mind behaves in novels.  It’s the first time I’ve done this and it helped the thistle digging go a bit quicker.  Both were intellectually stimulating even if I did find both a little evangelical about their respective topics.

You can see the tree and the pie shape from it.  I was pretty pleased with the efforts although depressed by the pile of thistles it creates.

Here’s a slightly different perspective on the same view so you can see it in the context of the rest of the garden.

It’s a this point I feel depressed.  There are so many thistles.  I reckon there is at least two weeks work full time to get rid of them.  Big sigh!

See what I mean?

So, if there are any willing hands out there who’d love to spend some time with Fortnum and Mason and eat fresh eggs from the chooks let me know.  It will be a pleasure to share the thistle harvesting burden.

Now don’t all rush at once!