When we first bought our old cortijo, one of the only things that really concerned me was the large pine tree that grew about three metres from the front of the house. Each year we would pay for someone to come and remove the processionary caterpillar nests. It was not cheap, but better than risking these nasty beasties maiming or killing the dogs. The tree roots were causing extensive ground heave, which would eventually undermine the house, and it was tall enough to be interfering with the power lines that supply our house and those of the neighbours.
After the usual rigmarole with applying for permission from the Ayuntamiento and then waiting months to obtain a multiply-stamped permit, we called in the professionals.
The tree was cut down during the week that Geoff was in the UK and I was busy breaking my ankle, so other than getting the logs piled up neatly, nothing was done with it for over a year.
Meanwhile, in the garden, the area around the fig tree was bugging me. I wanted to put something there, because it was a rather dead space, but inspiration was not striking.
I had planted the fig tree in a racing tyre that has sentimental value for us, so whatever I did would need to work around the tyre. I also had a load of empty wine bottles from Christmas and various celebrations that I wanted to use.
To cut a long story short, after much deliberation, I decided I would build a ‘stumpery.’ I suppose it should more correctly be called a slice-and-bottlery, but I do not let little things like accuracy worry me.
The stumpery will take a little while to settle in. The last few bottles need to be hammered in further and the spaces between the bottles will have to be topped up with compost as the rain washes what is already in there down. The succulents are tiny at the moment, but I hope they will spread and fill out quite quickly. Then, as the fig tree grows and matures, we shall have another shady place to sit and enjoy the sights, sounds (and smells!) of our little patch of paradise.