halfway up a wall

You may have noticed, in your travels, large concrete cylinders - some 4 - 5 feet across and about 3 feet high - lying around many civil engineering projects.  They’re usually used to build sewage/drainage inspection shafts.

There’s one in our front garden, not because my DIY projects have reached a new level of ambition, but because these cylinders make amazing planters.  They’re also surprisingly cheap - mine was had for £50 from our local builders merchant.  Imagine what a pot that size would cost.  

I painted it with black masonry paint and plonked a magnolia in it, after filling it with soil and garden compost - which in many ways was the hardest part.  There’s quite a volume to fill.

Halfway up the side is a tiny hole - about 2” diameter - probably left over from the manufacturing process.  Somehow an Alpine Strawberry has managed to secure a foot hold (might be something to do with the name - ‘alpine’).  It has no visible means of support, so I assume it belayed up the side and then set up a bivvy in the hole. 

It was only when I loaded the image into my computer than I noticed the ladybird camped out as well.