Sunday 9th November 2025 - Plog, How to Add Interest and That Extra Mile

I’ve started working on a new vlog for my YouTube channel.  This covers my recipe for pork with celery and given it’s not that easy to film while cooking and narrating at the same time, I have chosen to use photos instead, with a voice over.  I suppose I shouldn’t call it a vlog (video log).  Maybe plog (photo log) would be more appropriate.  I could call it a phlog but this would probably get confused with flog, meaning to sell something.  Unless, I can think of another term, I’m going to go with plog.  I have a full week ahead; therefore, I don’t see me publishing my recording on YouTube in the immediate future.  I’ll let you know when it’s live.

I’ve been thinking of how to add interest to an area of lawn, between where we usually place our table and chairs and the pond.  One idea, was a tree but we already have eleven (pear, two figs, greengage, apple, two olives, Portugal laurel, walnut, apricot and a musmula) plus it would block our current view to the end of the garden, which we both appreciate, and it would mean more leaves to clear.  Next thought was a statue or a wood carving or move the bird bath from under the apple tree. Yes, fine, but an absolute pain for Peter to mow around and for me, trimming away the grass at the base.  I thought again, and this time I came up with circular stepping stones, leading from the path to the pond.  We already have some spare and not in use which I have now placed on the grass in a curve.  As yet, I’m not sure whether I will cut them in so they are flush with the level of the lawn enabling Peter to mow over them (we did this where we lived before, after dispensing with a concrete path down the garden).  I keep swaying back and forth on this decision.  I could place pots (not heavy ones) on the stones which would add interest to this area and be easily moved for mowing.  I really can’t make up my mind.  Maybe I need someone to say, yes that will look good, or there must be something better you could think of, or why not just leave it as it is!

Shortly after we moved here, we purchased a daphne, one which produces clusters of fragrant flowers in the autumn.  It has surpassed itself this year with flowers dotted throughout the plant and when I pass by, I just have to stop and take in the fragrance.  It goes to show, that while some plants and trees are shutting down for the winter, others are going that ‘extra mile’ to provide interest in the garden.  Today’s photo is off our daphne, with its almost completely bare stems, adorned with blooms.