MORE TREES & MORE WEEDING

Growing Aspen Grove

Well, really only two trees and a shrub.  I drove out to Chalfant Big Trees yesterday and bought two more aspens and another red twig dogwood.  Got the dogwood planted yesterday and Jim will bring irrigation to it this afternoon.  The aspens got planted this morning.  Our little aspen grove is looking quite nice.  Of course now I see room for three or four more as they follow the ditch down stream.

Latest Red Twig dogwood

We also got tags for the trees and are working to get most of our trees labeled with type (common name), name and date of purchase (aka birthdate).

Newly weeded and trimmed ditch!

We did a little more weeding. We cleaned up the ditch above the driveway by the veggie garden.  I had fantasies of getting the rest of the yard done but between being tired from running the past two mornings and all the other chores (including baking two birthday cakes today), I think we just have to be happy with what we have done.  It seems like time to relax now.

Aspens and Orchard from front deck (Notice the new aspens)!_

Aspen Grove From Driveway

Couldn't sit still so went back out to unwrap the two fig trees.  Kadota White Fig looks great.  Small but it has some leaves beginning to erupt.  Brown Turkey fig was a disaster!  IT was next to the one aspen that failed.  This aspen looked dead long after all the others leafed out.  I wiggled the trunk and the whole thing just fell over.  I could almost but not quite just pull it out by hand. My guess is voles ate it.  

Unwrapping Kadota White Fig Tree

When I unwrapped the neighboring fig, it looked shorter than I remembered and much less lively than the white fig.  I grabbed a branch to feel for life and the top 2+ feet came up in my hand.  The bottom looked like a beaver had gnawed it.  I see no sign of the remaining portion of the trunk or any root ball.  I am now on the warpath for these voles.  I might have to walk around the ditch stabbing the ground with the pitchfork!  Actually, that sounds more like a job for the "great white hunter," Jim!  Time to go fig tree shopping.

All that is left of the Brown Turkey Fig

Close-up of gnawed off Fig Tree!