Warm and dry
The photo to the right is of my garden shed. Have you noticed that the door has a gap on the latch side? The gap has always been there but over the years it has increased in size. One might think that the problem is that the door doesn’t sit square with its opening. That is not the problem. The shed leans to the left. It is ever so easy, using a little bit of weight, to push it straight but, as soon as the weight is lifted, the shed reverts to its tilt to the left. Over the 15 years of living where we are the roof of the shed has been realigned and the felt renewed. In fact, other than its slight tilt, the shed is in really good condition.
We considered buying a newer shed this year. However, all things considered, we decided it was an unnecessary expense. I am quite glad, but not because there will be no financial outlay. Although the shed is only 4ft x 6ft, in the winter it is used to store the garden table and chairs. Admittedly it is a tight fit and you can’t get into the shed, so what is needed over the winter is left by the door. In the early spring the shed is cleared of the garden furniture to make the tools and garden paraphernalia accessible again.
This activity is a discovery trail of all the insects that have hibernated undisturbed over the winter. How sensible they are to choose such a safe, secure environment away from the harshness of the elements. I marvel that so many insects – ladybirds, bees, butterflies, grubs and spiders – all emerge as the weather changes and warms up. Somehow these tiny insects pick up and read the signs that alert them to the changing seasons and environment. They have more sense than I sometimes have when I say to myself or others, after some calamity has befallen me, “I knew this was going to happen, it was obvious”. So, my leaning garden shed with its wide gap at the right hand side of the door is advantageous to my garden in protecting its insect inhabitants. A good dose of common sense and awareness of what is going on around me will help me avoid some of the pitfalls which trap me in the normal ups and downs of life.
We considered buying a newer shed this year. However, all things considered, we decided it was an unnecessary expense. I am quite glad, but not because there will be no financial outlay. Although the shed is only 4ft x 6ft, in the winter it is used to store the garden table and chairs. Admittedly it is a tight fit and you can’t get into the shed, so what is needed over the winter is left by the door. In the early spring the shed is cleared of the garden furniture to make the tools and garden paraphernalia accessible again.
This activity is a discovery trail of all the insects that have hibernated undisturbed over the winter. How sensible they are to choose such a safe, secure environment away from the harshness of the elements. I marvel that so many insects – ladybirds, bees, butterflies, grubs and spiders – all emerge as the weather changes and warms up. Somehow these tiny insects pick up and read the signs that alert them to the changing seasons and environment. They have more sense than I sometimes have when I say to myself or others, after some calamity has befallen me, “I knew this was going to happen, it was obvious”. So, my leaning garden shed with its wide gap at the right hand side of the door is advantageous to my garden in protecting its insect inhabitants. A good dose of common sense and awareness of what is going on around me will help me avoid some of the pitfalls which trap me in the normal ups and downs of life.
Merle Sparkes
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