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                         a   S T A M M E R  project              

2008 August 31 - September 21

Strawbales can serve a thousand and one different purposes most of them undiscovered so far. We used them, among many other things (sounds barriers, scaffolds, chairs)  to create a kind of workplace with a workbench for the construction of the garden house.
Straw bales have also remarkable effects on the environment. Plants start to germinate and grow with much more ease in the layer of loose straw around the bales. It must also attract loads of mice and other creatures because we find deep holes dug into the ground around the bales, probably produced by foxes or badgers going desperately after them.

The next step in the construction of the garden house was the wooden floor. Five metre long pine joists (20x5cm) were used to span from wall to wall, separated by beams of a smaller size (10x5cm). OSB boards were fixed at the bottom to hold the straw that was placed between the joists for insulation.

Workplace and bench among the straw bales.
7 Sept 14:56
 

Framework of joists.
4 Sept 17:57

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Seven bales (110x45x35cm) disappeared into the floor.
I was having doubts about fixing a waterproof layer at the bottom of the OSB boards to protect the bales from condensation water. Opinions on the internet diverge considerably and there is even a tendency to avoid all kinds of impermeable layers in a house. For the moment I will do without but I will regularly check the cellar below the floor for condensation.

Filling with straw.
16 Sept 10:58

Dovetailing of the pine boards.
16 Sept 16:56

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Above the straw the wooden floor (pine) was fixed. It protrudes 2 cm on all sides to offer possibilities to fix  chicken wire and  hold the vertical plaster layer.

Detail of the wooden floor.
21 Sept 12:55

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The physical conditions in the cellar below the floor showed already some of their peculiarities. I discovered a Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias) inside with six well-fed caterpillars of  Hyles euphorbiae. I have often seen this species all over the terrain but never more than one at a time.

A colony of caterpillars bivouacking in the cellar.
10 Sept 12:06

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Not related to the construction and intriguing for other reasons is this white moth, which showed a remarkable resemblance to a somewhat withered white flower with a green heart.

Yet unknown moth, mimicking a white flower.
31 Aug 9:45

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On many parts the terrain was coloured yellow with the flowers of Odontites luteus, just like last year. It is supposed to be a (hemi) parasitic plant but there often don't seem to be much  green plant life to parasitize.

Group of Odontites luteus.
Upper terrace, looking north-west.
15 Sept 8:51
 

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Rain was, as usual, quite scarce this summer. The upper pond dried completely up and some planted plants must have died. However the Yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus), which is said to appreciate summer drought, was still relatively green.

Finally, around half September there was a substantial downpour of more than 15 litres which filled the upper pond for about 50%.

Dry upper pond. The lower pond never dried up, probably because of condensation and the absence of transpiring plants.
17 Sept 14:40

After the first autumn rain.
20 Sept 9:05

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After the arrival of the autumn rains it is perhaps a good moment to state  the rate of success of the plants we planted in spring. I guess about 70% of the plants survived the summer. Important casualties: Euonymus europaeus (2 dead out of 3 planted), Rhamnus lycioides (3/5), Salix caprea (2/3), Sorbus aria (1/3), Viburnum tinus (3/5).

Wooly yarrow (Achillea tomentosa) was planted on a relatively dry place but did remarkably well and was able to compete with the succulent Sedums and Sempervivums. It will certainly be one of the candidates to get a role on the green roofs we have designed for the (garden) house.

introduction
floristic catalogue
faunistic catalogue
contact
index
gallery 1: 2006-2012
gallery 2: 2012-
map
>> 2008 Sep 28
<< 2008 Aug 11