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Watch out! Flying sawdust as the corner of the new mountain fence is smoothed out.

A reader has asked me to make some suggestions about trees that work well at altitude, since she – like me – needs to replace some damaged by the heavy snow we had this winter. I’ve put off my visit to Lehmann in Sion until early next week; this is the address I was given for specialist advice and good plants. I’ll let you know what I find, as I have 4 gaps that need to be filled.

I normally prune our fruit trees but the damage to all trees and bushes was so severe this year that I hired a garden crew to come in and do it. Now that I see pears and apples and cherries and plums coming along beautifully, I’m happy I spent the money on experts.

And our fence was too badly damaged to repair, so after much reflection, a few unsuccessful attempts at repairing the old one and some juggling in the budget, we have the same crew putting up a new Scotch pine fence. Let’s hope the car doesn’t have to be replaced this year, or the oven or washing machine.

I’m awestruck: the amount of labour going into this and their attention to detail and getting it just right reminds me that I’m in Switzerland, if I had any doubts. Next: the wood is given a protective coating, then a kind of grill is put on the outside.

I’d love to leave it like this, but it won’t keep out animals, and it won’t protect our handicapped daughter if she can slip through the railing and wander onto the road.

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