I am in garden heaven, and we had a surprise visitor.

Yesterday morning, whilst on the phone to my mother, council contractors were clearing the road verge free of tree limbs, as well as trimming trees too close to the power lines.

“I really should go and ask what they’re doing with the chips, shouldn’t I?” I wavered, not really feeling up to talking to complete strangers at 8.55am.

“Yes, yes you should,” my mother replied. “Hang up. Go and ask.”

Wearing Evelyn as protective armor, I walked to the corner of my paddock where the men were standing, and asked what they were doing with the woodchips.

Nathan and I had been discussing getting some pinebark for a while, to help complete the small yard, as well as mulch for my fruit trees. Free woodchips delivered would just be perfect.

Two hours later, this showed up.

“Sorry it’s not a full load, mate.” He apologised as he tipped the chips out for us.

That pile is nearly as tall as I am.

Today we spread chips out over part of the small yard, mulching the things we want to save and suffocating the rest.

I was going to do a before and after shot, but I forgot to take a before shot. Just think that the centre part was all dead, and the plants were being strangled by waist high grass.

We still have A LOT of woodchips left. It’s kind of awesome.

Half way through spreading out the chips, we had a visitor.

We had to stop work to admire her.

Of course this means I haven’t written a single thing for NaNoWriMo today. But that’s okay. I can write tonight.

Today am am revelling in a clean fresh garden start, tomato seedlings planted, a greenhouse garden bed fixed, and woodchip mulch that I got for free.