Mum was right

...but that is not so surprising...mothers are usually right!

She said, 'Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.'  I know, it wasn't her own thought, but when she first told me, I was very impressed.  Mind you, it didn't stop me from calling people names, but I didn't take up throwing sticks or stones either...I just stored the saying away, for about half a century, so I could write this blog post!

What's is wrong with is picture?

Nothing? Exactly! The path is nicely raked, the mulch is in place, the little plants are settling in.

But just add a few scratchy chooks, enjoying a forage in the mulch, kicking it onto the gravel on the path, uprooting the plants, and generally making a horrible mess.  

This scenario equals one very unhappy gardener! And boy, did I call those girls some names!

Names which may have had Mum brandishing the soap in the direction of my mouth, if she had heard me!

You saw the 'stone' solution for the inner garden.  

It worked a treat!  All the plants have stayed firmly rooted where I planted them and are growing.

That did not solve the problem of the mulch on the path...

but the sticks have!

Maybe it isn't pretty, but it sure is practical!  Once the plants grow and form a hedge, the chickens won't be able to do much damage...but until then, there won't be so much blue language floating over the neighbour's fence!

I like this picture.  It shows the sneak path from the grey garden across to the drive...just to the left of that pot on a stand.