...........A frost-mailed warrior striding a shadowy steed of snow." - Edgar Fawcett
How has a week gone so quickly and I've not even been at the nursery due to all the snow and freezing temperatures we've had!
Back to last Monday and day four of willow weaving and almost finished the first side. So this year I've changed tactics. Usually I do the willow fedge weaving over January and February in between tidying up the nursery gardens and all the other tasks at this time of year. This year I decided to just do the willow weaving until its finished, see how long it actually takes, get that one huge task done and out the way and it might even be more efficient. So far I am doing an average of 7.3 feet of weaving an hour apparently. I'm really enjoying getting on with it and its satisfying to see how much I've done each day, especially when it's such a big task. The willow is mainly a green variety but there is also an orange and a red variety. It becomes much more visible once woven. If you want to read more about willow, have a look at my blog here Willow.
David's first construction job of 2021 was to put up some trellis between our messy work area and the stock beds. I'm going to grow an evergreen honeysuckle (Lonicera henryi) on the trellis which will provide all year round colour and cover. L. henryi has orange-red flowers, lovely colour but sadly not scented. The whole job was overseen by the nursery dog as you can see.
Tuesday was a bit of gloomy Eeyore kind of day, the fog lifted slightly then it rained all afternoon 🙄 at least it didn't snow like its doing now. I did get the first side of the willow fedge finished though and another 50 feet on the second side done before the rain got too heavy. Happy with that, a good few days work.
I was glad I swapped my days off around and worked Monday and Tuesday as the rain that was supposed to fall on Tuesday night was snow, so we are back to a white winter wonderland, very frustrating.
On Wednesday we walked further up our road than we've done before, mainly cause there's the fraction of traffic than usual due to "lockdown" and no speeding vehicles on a narrow twisty road which was pleasant. We found a waterfall and a pool further up the river too, something to investigate in better weather.
I finally got some of our wedding photos framed and up on the wall, its only taken 3 and a half years!
Well it snowed all Wednesday night, but didn't lie much, a wet foggy start that cleared up in the later afternoon to clear blue skies. We enjoyed a cold walk along the path at Traquair as it was getting dark.
“Hippocrates gave to drink a decoction of its root-juice to wounded people thirsty because of blood loss, and [applied] the mallow leaf itself onto wounds with honey and resin; similarly onto contusions,
luxations and swellings; and he applied it as above onto muscles, sinews and joints; he gave it to drink in wine to people suffering from spasms or dysentery.”
The plant is very effective in treating inflamations and irritations of the mucus membranes. The root counters excess stomach acid and peptic ulcers. It can also be applied externally to bruises, sprains
aching muscles (I need to bath in the stuff then) insect bites and skin inflamations.
For medicinal uses the leaves can be harvested in August as the plant comes into flower and dried for use later and the root best harvested in autumn and again can be dried.
For cooking the leaves can be used raw or cooked as a pot herb or to thicken soups. Used in amongst other leaves they are a passable food but on their own in quantity their mucilaginous texture makes them inedible. The leaves can be eaten raw but are somewhat hairy and not too pleasant. In lean times the root was boiled and fried with onion. A tea can made from the flowers or roots.
The sweet marshmallow was made by grinding the dried roots into a powder then made into a paste and with several other ingredients and flavourings then cooked and left to set before being cut into small sweets.
A very useful plant to have in the garden with its medicinal, herbal, household and cooking uses
**I haven’ tried any of the herbal uses of this plant so cannot say whether they work, as always it is good to do some research or buy ready prepared products from a reputable herbalist.
though I don't think my brain is thanking me, time for wine.
another snow day on Saturday. I did go to the nursery planning to get on with the willow fedge weaving but there was even more snow there than at home and well below zero temperatures. So we checked everything was ok and headed home 
More admin in front of the log burner, I have updated the nursery website with new stock and other admin, but feeling fed up, but I know even I can't do anything about the weather.
We've had more snow this year than in the last 3 years at least, its pretty but inconvenient.
So there we are, another wintery week over and nearly at the end of January already. Lets hope the weather improves soon so I dont get too far behind in the nursery.
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