Shine a light
In a fit of misguided horticultural enthusiasm as few years ago, I invested in a half dozen solar powered lanterns for the garden. I figured that we were at least five years away from genetically modifying plants to the extent that they would actually glow in the dark, so if I wanted garden lighting in the meantime, I had to get some hardware.
I have, on the whole, greatly enjoyed my little garden lanterns. I’m not sure whether they act as a deterrent for garden pests such as foxes, or whether the animals, instead of being driven away by the little circles of light, instead appreciate some lighting to see exactly where they are crapping, but it was fun at night to look out of the window and see the little twinkles (lights, not a slang term for foxes in the act of crapping).
A few summers of rain and winters of frost and snow took their toll however, and as of last autumn the solar panels were misted over and the rechargeable batteries denuded. My lanterns were nothing more than metal mushrooms sticking up from the edge of my lawn.
That was until a few weeks ago where, as a result no doubt of an unseasonably warm and sunny spring…one twinkled back into life. Excited beyond measure, I bought some fresh rechargeable batteries, gave the solar panels a wipe and awaited the result…which was a half dozen lanterns shining brightly.
That one lantern survived the winter is a very cheering thought, that all the rest did also makes me happier than anyone as raddled by wine and cheese as I has a right to be, but that I now have my lanterns back for the cost of a packet of batteries has me grinning every dusk as they wink on. It may be one step away from floodlighting the place like a goods marshalling yard but if it were up to me I’d have a dozen more of the things. As it is, I have restricted myself to the solar powered fairy lights that wind around my shed and which, in turn, my vine has wound around, so that come the evening it takes on the appearance of a plant glowing in the dark. Who needs GM?
I have, on the whole, greatly enjoyed my little garden lanterns. I’m not sure whether they act as a deterrent for garden pests such as foxes, or whether the animals, instead of being driven away by the little circles of light, instead appreciate some lighting to see exactly where they are crapping, but it was fun at night to look out of the window and see the little twinkles (lights, not a slang term for foxes in the act of crapping).
A few summers of rain and winters of frost and snow took their toll however, and as of last autumn the solar panels were misted over and the rechargeable batteries denuded. My lanterns were nothing more than metal mushrooms sticking up from the edge of my lawn.
That was until a few weeks ago where, as a result no doubt of an unseasonably warm and sunny spring…one twinkled back into life. Excited beyond measure, I bought some fresh rechargeable batteries, gave the solar panels a wipe and awaited the result…which was a half dozen lanterns shining brightly.
That one lantern survived the winter is a very cheering thought, that all the rest did also makes me happier than anyone as raddled by wine and cheese as I has a right to be, but that I now have my lanterns back for the cost of a packet of batteries has me grinning every dusk as they wink on. It may be one step away from floodlighting the place like a goods marshalling yard but if it were up to me I’d have a dozen more of the things. As it is, I have restricted myself to the solar powered fairy lights that wind around my shed and which, in turn, my vine has wound around, so that come the evening it takes on the appearance of a plant glowing in the dark. Who needs GM?
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