Lopping and chopping and pruning

The gardeners and tree choppers are very busy here. There are lots of whirring noises, crashes and thuds along the tree-lined avenues of the town. Friends who have large vegetable plots are early to bed with back ache. There is a lot of pruning and lopping all around. Even I have gingerly snipped off a few twigs and old leaves from my plants on the balcony. I always feel that pruning gives plants a better shape as well as getting rid of dried out and rotten bits. The lopping of the branches gives the trees a surprised look against the spring sky. They look a bit like teenagers who have had their straggly hair cut against their will.

The men on their machines at the top of the trees look very skilled, they must have a good head for heights.